The Saudi Pro League opens its new season on Thursday without Mohamed Salah but with Cristiano Ronaldo on the brink of a historic milestone. The league is pivoting toward younger players with resale value, while the national team has yet to reap the benefits of billions spent on foreign stars.
The Saudi Pro League enters its fourth season on Thursday, August 13, following an unprecedented spending spree of $957 million on new signings in the summer of 2023. Although the league no longer features Mohamed Salah, who did not join the Saudi championship, all eyes will still be on 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, reports The Guardian Sport.
The Portuguese captain of Al-Nassr is just 24 goals shy of the magical 1,000 career goals mark. Having scored 102 goals in 107 league appearances for the Saudi club, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has a realistic chance of reaching that historic milestone this very season.
However, Ronaldo will miss the season opener. According to Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah, the club has granted him an extended break following his appearances for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup. The captain also used his time off to marry Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez. Al-Nassr will thus defend their title without their biggest asset on Saturday, August 15, against Al-Fateh, followed by a King's Cup clash with Al-Diriyah three days later. Both matches will be played in Riyadh.
While Ronaldo writes the final chapters of his career, the Saudi league is attempting a pivot. The focus is no longer on bringing in aging stars but on younger players who could one day generate profit by moving back to Europe. The biggest summer signing so far is 24-year-old Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville, whom Al-Hilal paid around €80 million for.
Al-Hilal, sold by the Public Investment Fund in April, still boasts an impressive roster. Alongside Summerville are Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves, Theo Hernandez, Yassine Bounou, and Kalidou Koulibaly, with pressure on coach Simone Inzaghi to bring the title back to the blue side of Riyadh. Last season, Al-Hilal went unbeaten throughout the campaign, but that wasn't enough for the title, which was claimed by Al-Nassr.
Al-Nassr lost Jorge Jesus after winning the title in May, as he took over the Portuguese national team. He was replaced by Ange Postecoglou, former Tottenham manager, who has Sadio Mane, Kingsley Coman, and Joao Felix at his disposal. However, the club faces financial issues, so no significant signings have been made so far.
Al-Ahli, the two-time consecutive Asian champions chasing their second SPL title since 1984, received a shock days before the season started when coach Matthias Jaissle left for Newcastle. He was replaced by Marino Pusic, former assistant to Arne Slot, which did not excite fans in Jeddah. Al-Ittihad, meanwhile, hired 38-year-old German Jens Wissing, while Al-Qadsiah, under Brendan Rodgers and backed by sponsor Aramco, aims for their first trophy since 1984 after finishing fourth last season.
Despite massive investments, the Saudi national team has yet to see the benefits. Of the 26 players who featured at the World Cup, only right-back Saud Abdulhamid plays abroad, for French club Lens. Early elimination from the World Cup has raised questions about whether foreign players are stifling domestic talent, especially in creative and goalscoring positions. Club standards in Asian competitions have risen, but the national side is still waiting for a real breakthrough.
