Only Cristiano Ronaldo is worth his salary, says the Saudi ex-sports chief

Former Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad said Cristiano Ronaldo – who joined Al Nassr in December 2022 – is the only foreign player in the Saudi Pro League who actually deserves his multi-million dollar salary.

Prince Abdullah, who was in the post from 2014 to 2017 – before the huge influx of foreign players that transformed the league – also warned that the influx is sidelining local talent and threatening the future of the national team.

In an interview with the TV program Fi Al-Marama on Al-ArabiyaAbdullah called for urgent reforms to protect Saudi players and ensure competitiveness ahead of the 2034 World Cup, which the kingdom will host.

“Ronaldo is the only foreign player who is worth what he deserves because of the global fame he brings to the league and the country,” he said of the Portuguese forward whose annual salary is estimated at $211 million – $4 million per week.

“Many others are paid much more than they earn.”

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Prince Abdullah said Saudi players have become «extras» since the number of foreign players per team on match days rose to eight, and urged a reduction to seven and more investment in youth development.

“Right now, building a strong league comes at the expense of the national team,” he said. “We need a clear plan to prepare for 2034.”

He also called for the hiring of elite coaches for the youth categories and warned that without structural changes, Saudi players will struggle to regain prominence.

Prince Abdullah, whose concerns about refereeing standards during his tenure led to him appointing former England referee Howard Webb as refereeing director for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, also suggested scheduling major matches on Thursdays so that top European referees can take charge.

Published on November 27, 2025