Neymar Courts Controversy After Comparing Ligue 1 to Saudi Pro League

• Neymar left Paris Saint-Germain after six turbulent seasons and joined Al-Hilal
• He recently made comments that seemed to mock the French Ligue 1
• The Brazil star is the latest big name from Europe to move to the Saudi Pro League

Brazil and Al-Hilal superstar, Neymar has taken a brutal dig at the French Ligue 1 weeks after swapping them for the Saudi Pro League.

The 31-year-old superstar has joined top European footballers in Saudi Arabia, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. The league has shaken football this year after luring some of the biggest names in Europe to the Middle Eastern country.

Football fans have always made fun of the French Ligue 1, calling it a "farmers' league" due to the quality of football compared to other top leagues in Europe.

However, the French League is still considered a top-five league in Europe alongside the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga, and it features world-class players like Kylian Mbappe. Some of the best football talents have come from Ligue 1.

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However, Paris Saint-Germain have dominated the league ever since the takeover by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2011. Neymar was the star attraction in France after he joined PSG for a world record fee in 2017, per the Athletic.

Neymar trolls Ligue 1

During a press conference with the Brazil national team, Neymar was asked about the difference between Ligue 1 and the Saudi Pro League, and his answer was interesting.

"I assure you that soccer there [in Saudi Arabia] is the same. The ball is round, there's a goal, and if you look at the names that have gone to the Saudi league... I wouldn't be surprised if the Saudi League is better than the French," he said, via the BBC.

Neymar has not played a game for Al-Hilal since his transfer was completed last month. He spent six years at PSG, and although his stats look great, he was hampered by constant injuries, which forced him to miss over 100 games.

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Despite not being cleared to play, Neymar is in the Brazil squad that is set to play its first match in World Cup qualifying on Friday against Bolívia. Neymar last played for Brazil in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

PSG fans mock Neymar

Neymar and PSG supporters' sour relationship took a different twist when the ultras of the club sent him a message before the club's Ligue 1 game against Lens, Sports Brief reported.

Before the game against Lens, fans unveiled a banner insulting Neymar.

It read: "Neymar: finally rid of the rude."