Although Mohamed Salah will not feature when the new Saudi Pro League campaign begins on Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo could still command much of the attention as the competition moves beyond its reliance on ageing superstars. The 41-year-old needs another 24 goals to reach 1,000 in his career. Having struck 102 times in 107 league appearances for Al-Nassr, the five-time Ballon d’Or recipient is well placed to achieve that landmark this season.
The achievement would be enormous, although its place within the league’s broader strategy remains uncertain. This will be the fourth campaign since major investment began, including $957m spent during the summer of 2023. That outlay generated extensive international coverage, numerous overseas broadcast agreements and widespread demand for yellow Al-Nassr shirts bearing Ronaldo’s name. The priority is now shifting towards securing better returns and improving both the clubs and the overall quality of football in Saudi Arabia.
An early departure from the World Cup raised difficult questions. Later results offered a more positive perspective, with draws against Uruguay and an impressive Cape Verde side, alongside a single loss to eventual champions Spain. Even so, the central concern remains whether investment in the domestic competition has helped improve Saudi players. So far, there is limited evidence that it has.
The competition has yet to become a reliable source of players for European clubs or other overseas leagues. Among the 26 members of the World Cup squad, Lens right-back Saud Abdulhamid is the only one based abroad. There is broad agreement that this situation must change, particularly because many domestic players receive insufficient playing time. Foreign recruits frequently occupy key creative, scoring and goalkeeping roles, leaving fewer opportunities for local talent.
Heavy investment has unquestionably raised the general level of the clubs, and Saudi teams have become more successful in Asian competitions. However, the national team has not yet experienced a comparable improvement.
Although many believed Salah might favour the Red Sea over the Black Sea port of Trabzonspor, Saudi interest in signing the Egyptian appeared to weaken during recent months. That assessment also assumes he ever regarded a move to Saudi Arabia as his preferred option.
As the most prominent footballer in the Arab world, he would have attracted considerable attention. However, at 34, he no longer matches the preferred recruitment strategy of targeting younger players who may later return to Europe for a substantial transfer fee.
Crysencio Summerville may demonstrate whether that strategy can succeed. The summer’s most expensive arrival joined Al-Hilal for approximately €80m. If the move develops as planned, the 24-year-old Dutch winger could spend several seasons in Riyadh before eventually returning to Europe in another lucrative deal.
Summerville has faced familiar accusations of prioritising wealth over sporting ambition, but ambition has always been central to Al-Hilal’s identity. A club with 19 domestic championships and four Asian titles will not accept another second-place finish, even after completing an entire campaign without defeat.
The Blues, who were sold by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in April, retain a squad featuring Karim Benzema, Rúben Neves, Theo Hernández, Yassine Bounou and Kalidou Koulibaly, among others. Head coach Simone Inzaghi is therefore under significant pressure to bring the championship back from the yellow side of Riyadh.
Ronaldo secured that trophy with Al-Nassr in May, shortly before Jorge Jesus departed to become Portugal’s head coach. Ange Postecoglou has since taken charge. The former Tottenham manager can call upon Sadio Mané, Kingsley Coman and João Félix, but financial difficulties have so far restricted new arrivals. Winning the club’s first Asian Champions League title would represent a major success.
That continental honour currently belongs to Al-Ahli. After claiming a second consecutive Asian title in April, the club intended to concentrate on domestic competition and pursue only its second league championship since 1984. Preparations appeared promising until head coach Matthias Jaissle departed for Newcastle just days before the opening fixture. Al-Ahli and Newcastle are both owned by PIF, but the decision was poorly received in Jeddah. The arrival of Marino Pusic, formerly an assistant to Arne Slot, has generated little enthusiasm.
Jaissle’s exit also surprised Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli’s Jeddah rivals, following their difficult previous campaign. Only a day or two earlier, the Tigers had mirrored their neighbours by appointing a 38-year-old German coach. Like Jaissle, Jens Wissing had his playing career as a defender ended prematurely by injury and later gained experience at RB Salzburg. He now faces a demanding assignment.
Al-Qadsiah complete the group of leading challengers. If Brendan Rodgers can improve upon last season’s fourth-place result and deliver the club’s first trophy since 1984, it would represent a successful campaign for the Aramco-backed side.
The league now has a genuine “big five” capable of setting a demanding standard for the remaining clubs. However, lasting progress may depend on offering Saudi players more minutes and greater opportunities. Over time, that approach could benefit the competition more than recruiting Salah or other established stars already in their mid-30s.
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