"The Saudi League is better than the French League. In the French League, there's only Paris Saint-Germain; the rest is finished."
This statement by Cristiano Ronaldo last weekend sparked widespread reactions across the football world, and not without reason.
Challenging the Ballon d’Or and the European football hegemony. Cristiano Ronaldo at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai (Photo courtesy: Globe Soccer Dubai)
This week two years ago, the football world was stunned when Ronaldo joined Saudi club Al Nassr. This move, coming shortly after the World Cup in Qatar, signaled that the Middle East's, particularly the Gulf states', romance with football's elite wasn't ending anytime soon.
Last weekend, during the winter break in most European leagues, Dubai hosted the 15th Globe Soccer Awards, further cementing the growing ties between global football and the Gulf region. Since 2010, coinciding with Qatar's acquisition of PSG and two years after Abu Dhabi's purchase of Manchester City, Globe Soccer has been hosting this annual event, positioning itself as an alternative to the traditional Ballon d'Or.
While European media gives limited coverage to this event compared to France Football's Ballon d'Or ceremony, this year's Globe Soccer painted a contrasting picture to the Paris ceremony. Remember, Manchester City's Rodri won the Ballon d'Or over Vinicius Junior, causing shock and leading to Real Madrid representatives boycotting the ceremony.
At Globe Soccer, it seemed like a direct response to the Ballon d'Or. Vinicius, not Rodri, won Best Player; Jude Bellingham received the Best Midfielder award and the 'Maradona' prize; Thibaut Courtois won a special career award; Carlo Ancelotti was named Best Coach; and even Real Madrid's president Florentino Perez received a "Special Career" award.
The ceremony heavily focused on Middle Eastern football, particularly the Saudi League. Jorge Jesus of Al Hilal was named Best Middle Eastern Coach, while Ronaldo received the Best Middle Eastern Player award. Even Neymar, despite barely playing four matches in 2023, received a special career award.
Ronaldo, who also won the 'All-Time Top Scorer' award, used the platform to speak freely about football's hot topics. He praised young talents like Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, and Vinicius, but also criticized the French League and the Ballon d'Or selection process. "Vinicius should have won the Ballon d'Or; it wasn't fair," he stated publicly.
He didn't spare Manchester United either, comparing the club to an aquarium with sick fish, suggesting the problems run deeper than coaching changes. He also hinted at future ownership ambitions, stating he would ensure clear direction if he owned a major club.
The 2024 Globe Soccer Awards represented a challenge to traditional football power structures, placing Real Madrid, Vinicius, and Middle Eastern football at its center. It gave Ronaldo a platform to settle scores with the French League, the Ballon d'Or, and Manchester United while promoting Saudi football.
As the traditional Ballon d'Or ceremony faces declining professional respect worldwide, the Globe Soccer Awards are gaining prominence. While football tradition can't be bought with money, as we approach the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, more people might follow Globe Soccer simply because it's where interesting developments in football are increasingly taking place, albeit differently from Europe's perspective.
Al Hilal's 5-1 win keeps pressure on leaders Al Ittihad, while Al Nassr stay in the hunt. The Saudi Pro League title race intensifies.