Chelsea Legend Wants Cristiano Ronaldo Dropped by Portugal After 'Triggering' Ligue 1 Comment

Chelsea Legend Wants Cristiano Ronaldo Dropped by Portugal After 'Triggering' Ligue 1 Comment

Byron Pillay
updated at March 5, 2024 at 7:06 AM
In this article:
Cristiano Ronaldo logo
C. Ronaldo
Al Nassr FC logoFPortugal logo
Al Nassr FC logo
Al Nassr
Saudi Arabia
33
Al-Shabab FC logo
Al-Shabab FC
Saudi Arabia
30
Lionel Messi logo
L.Messi
Inter Miami CF logoFArgentina logo
Saudi Professional League logo
KSA Professional League
Saudi Arabia
French Ligue 1 logo
FRA Ligue 1
France
  • Cristiano Ronaldo angered a lot of people when he made comments about the French Ligue 1
  • The Al-Nassr captain suggested the Saudi Pro Ligue was more competitive than France's elite
  • Former French internationals have criticised the Portuguese star for his controversial remarks

Cristiano Ronaldo's comments about the Saudi Pro League have continued to cause a stir.

The former Manchester United star ruffled a few feathers when he suggested the Middle Eastern league was better than the French Ligue 1.

Cristiano Ronaldo has angered a former French international with his comments about Ligue 1.
A former Chelsea legend has suggested that Portugal drop Cristiano Ronaldo if they want to win the European Championships. Image: Matthias Hangst.
Source: Getty Images

As noted by ESPN, Ronaldo made the comments in January, saying there were only two or three good teams in France, whereas it was more competitive in the Pro League.

His comments initially caused a stir, and it seems as if the furore surrounding them hasn't died down.

Football365 noted that French legend and former Chelsea star, Frank Leboeuf, has criticised the Al-Nassr captain's choice of words.

"It annoys me when I hear Cristiano Ronaldo saying that the Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1. Why do you think he chose to make that comment about Ligue 1 rather than the Portuguese League?
"It’s because Lionel Messi played in Ligue 1. I have lots of respect for him as a player, but come on, just shut up! It is unfair to Ligue 1," Leboeuf said.

Leboeuf aims catty dig at Ronaldo

The Portuguese star's comment about the league not only riled up the Frenchman it also prompted him to fire back a comment about the Al-Nassr captain.

Leboeuf suggested that Portugal would be one of the favourites for the upcoming European Championships and could win the title if they dropped Ronaldo.

Ronaldo's comments upset former French international

Leboeuf wasn't the only former French international who took issue with Ronaldo's comments. GOAL noted that Laure Boulleau accused the Portuguese star of having a big ego and also insinuated the veteran only made the statement because Messi played in France.

Ronaldo banned for inappropriate gesture

Sports Brief also reported on Ronaldo receiving a one-game suspension and a fine for an inappropriate gesture.

CR7 made the gesture during the Saudi Pro League fixture against Al-Shabab in response to fans taunting him.

Opposition fans chose to chant Lionel Messi’s name in a bid to wind up the 39-year-old and the tactic worked.

Authors
Byron Pillay photo
Byron Pillay
Byron Pillay is a sports writer and Head of the Department at Sports Brief (joined in 2022) with over 10 years of experience in community journalism and a degree in journalism from Caxton's Cadet School.