Saudi Pro League opens new season as Ronaldo nears 1,000 career goals
The Saudi Pro League begins a new season on Thursday as the competition attempts to move beyond an era of ageing megastars while Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, remains a central figure as he sits 24 goals short of 1,000 career strikes.
Since the summer 2023 spending spree that saw $957m invested, the league has attracted international broadcasting deals and global attention, with Al-Nassr’s Ronaldo among the most visible beneficiaries; he has scored 102 goals in 107 league appearances for the club. League officials and clubs now say the emphasis is shifting toward extracting more value from that expenditure and raising the standard of Saudi Arabian football overall. Saudi Arabia’s early World Cup exit prompted scrutiny about whether domestic investment has improved local players; only right-back Saud Abdulhamid of Lens from the 26-man squad plays abroad. Observers point to limited minutes for homegrown players, who are often displaced by foreign signings in attacking and goalkeeping roles.
Mohamed Salah will not feature in the season-opening rosters and the pursuit of veteran stars appears less frenetic than in previous windows as clubs prioritise younger recruits with potential resale value. Al-Hilal made the summer’s biggest signing when they paid around €80m for 24-year-old Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville, a move framed as fitting the club’s ambition. Al-Hilal have a record of domestic and continental success—19 league titles and four Asian championships—and the club expect to challenge for top honours, with second place deemed insufficient even in an undefeated campaign.
Al-Hilal, sold by the Public Investment Fund in April, retain several high-profile players including Karim Benzema, Rúben Neves, Theo Hernández, Yassine Bounou and Kalidou Koulibaly, placing pressure on coach Simone Inzaghi to reclaim the title for the Blues. Al-Nassr, champions in May, could see Ronaldo approach his goals milestone this season; Jorge Jesus left after that triumph to take over Portugal and was succeeded by Ange Postecoglou, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager. Al-Nassr’s squad includes Sadio Mané, Kingsley Coman and João Félix, but the club face financial constraints that have limited incoming transfers.
Al-Ahli enter the domestic campaign on the back of continental success, having secured their second successive Asian Champions League title in April and preparing to contest for a first Saudi Pro League crown since 1984. Their head coach, Matthias Jaissle, departed for Newcastle just days before the season began and was replaced by Marino Pusic, who previously served as an assistant to Arne Slot. The timing of Jaissle’s exit caused disquiet in Jeddah amid close regional rivalries.
Al-Ittihad also made a late managerial appointment, hiring Jens Wissing, a 38-year-old German with experience at RB Salzburg, as they seek to improve on a difficult previous campaign. Aramco-backed Al-Qadsiah have Brendan Rodgers in charge and aim to build on last season’s fourth-place finish and target a first trophy since 1984. Together these clubs form a recognised group of contenders that dominate expectations for the title race.
The season’s start on Thursday will coincide with the ongoing debate over the league’s strategy: whether investing in younger, sellable talent and providing more minutes to local players will deliver broader gains for Saudi Arabian football, even as high-profile veterans like Ronaldo continue to attract attention.