While Neymar hasn’t shone with Al-Hilal, look at Cristiano Ronaldo's impact in Arabia

Cristiano Ronaldo was called a mad man when he announced he would travel to MidWest and join Al-Nassr in order to play at te Saudi Pro League, one of the less watched football tournaments all around the world; many detractors of the Portuguese astro said his career would be over and he only agreed so he can only increase his fortune.

But the truth is that Ronaldo was only a visionaire, a man who tried to play in the top European clubs when he already achieved many great goals during his career in Europe. What Cristiano showed is that he could break and set more records in a completely new and different league. When Al-Nassr announced his signing, he wasn’t the only elite player to move away from the Old Continent, as he was followed by many other players.

Karim Benzema, Thiago Neves, Marcelo, Mané and Neymar Jr. are some of the other top A class players that followed Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps, and proved that football wasn’t only a thing from Europe. The Saudi Pro League had a total evolution, and thanks to the Portuguese astro, Saudi Arabia was put on the map.

Al-Nassr knew the importance and great meaning Cristiano Ronaldo is in the world of sports and entertainment, it was an all around business if they could bring him to the Saudi Pro League, not just because of the impact he would make on the team but in the whole league and the MidWest.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact

It’s true Neymar Jr. was also one of the most important signings last year when he arrived at Al-Hilal, nevertheless, we just have to look at his stats to give an obvious answer on why his arrival to the Saudi Pro League hasn’t been as important as Cristiano’s.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival to Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League aired in 140+ countries having it been broadcasted in only three countries before he played in the MidWest; The club's profit margin of the SPL grew by 650%, which means, the Al-Nassr’s incomes increased at their highest levels.

Saudi All-star played against a dream PSG team having Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar Jr., and gave an outstanding result for Ronaldo’s official debut in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Nassr’s Instagram followers went from less than one million to 20 million.

Al-Nassr won the Arab Club Champions Cup for the first time in their history;  and thanks to his great performance throughout his professional career, a museum of his history will be opened at Riyadh city.