Cristiano Ronaldo proud to be 'pioneer' of Saudi football and downplays Messi rivalry

Cristiano Ronaldo says he is proud to be a “pioneer” for football in Saudi Arabia, insisting it has become normal for the game’s top stars to play in the kingdom.

The Portuguese forward, 38, joined Saudi Pro League (SPL) club Al Nassr in late December on a two-and-a-year deal, paving the way for a number of high-profile players to follow him to the top tier this summer.

Brazil superstar Neymar, current Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema, African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane, World Cup winner N’Golo Kante, and former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson are only some of the headline names to move to the SPL in the past few months.

The league has publicly declared its ambition to develop into one of the top-five domestic competitions in the world. The kingdom’s aggressive recruitment drive this summer has led to criticism from lead football figures in Europe, including Uefa president Alexander Ceferin and Barcelona counterpart Joan Laporta.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday night while on international duty with Portugal, Ronaldo said: "It's normal to criticise. What league is not criticised? Where aren't there problems and controversy? There are everywhere; Saudi Arabia, Portugal, and the current in Spain [regarding Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales].

"I already knew, and I still say as I said six months ago: everyone thought I was so crazy about this move. But after all, it isn't so crazy any more.

“Now, it's normal to play in the Saudi league. I knew this was going to happen. As an Al Nassr player, I have been playing for eight months and I feel the improvement.”

Ronaldo, who said he believed the SPL is now a better standard than Portugal’s Primeira Liga, has enjoyed a superb start to the