Cristiano Ronaldo has been asked to “shut up”, with the Portuguese accused of allowing Lionel Messi to influence his opinion on Ligue 1.
Last January, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner compared his new home in the Middle East with a championship previously occupied by his eternal rival Messi in France: “ The Saudi championship is not worse than Ligue 1. The Saudi Pro League is more competitive than Ligue 1, I can say that after spending a year there. We are already better than the French championship.”
Ronaldo’s comments inevitably sparked a passionate reaction from those with ties to French football. Frank Leboeuf, winner of the 1998 World Cup, was the last to respond to CR7. The former Chelsea and Marseille defender, who spent time in Qatar at the end of his career, told BetVictor: “It annoys me to hear Cristiano Ronaldo say that the Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1. Why do you think he chose to make this comment about Ligue 1 rather than the Portuguese championship? It’s because Lionel Messi played in Ligue 1. I have a lot of respect for him as a player, but come on, shut up! It’s unfair for Ligue 1.”
Angry beef all red
“For me, Portugal is one of the candidates for this summer’s European Championship. I even think they can win the Euro, but only if Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t play. You can’t take away from Ronaldo everything he has done for football just because he retired in the Saudi League. I want to thank him for taking this sport to another level, but there is an end for everyone. He has every right to play in Saudi Arabia, although I’m not sure he needs even more money! »
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr after being released by Manchester United as a free player. He is working on the most lucrative contract in world football. Leboeuf also has no problem with this state of affairs: “I have no problem with players at the end of their career who go to play in lower leagues to earn more money, the same thing happened with Lionel Messi. Both have been fantastic players but they have chosen to no longer play at the highest level and we must respect that. You can never take away what they did for football. The competition between these two has actually improved the entire sport. She made it more attractive. Thank you Ronaldo, thank you Messi, enjoy your retirement! »
