Karim Benzema Headlines Top 5 Stars Who Have Struggled After Joining Ronaldo in Saudi League

The Saudi Pro League has made headlines in the football world with its high-profile transfers since 2023, positioning itself as a potential rival to European leagues as a destination for top talent.

The buzz began when Cristiano Ronaldo made a surprising move to Al Nassr in January last year, drawing widespread attention to the Saudi top division.

Ronaldo has since been in sensational form, recently notching his 64th career hat-trick and finishing as the top scorer in the world in 2023 with an impressive 54 strikes, as noted by GOAL.

However, not all of the high-profile signings have enjoyed the same success in the Middle East. Despite the league's growing reputation, A-list stars like Karim Benzema have struggled to replicate Ronaldo's impact.

Sports Brief examines the Saudi League and highlights five big names who have failed to live up to the hype and expectations since their arrival.

Benzema and the top 4 flops in Saudi League

5. Jota

Jota? Yes, but not the one from Liverpool. The Portuguese winger was anticipated to shine in the Saudi League after joining Al-Ittihad for a joint club-record fee of £25million last summer.

However, his tenure quickly soured when he was excluded from the squad by then-manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Despite being given a second chance by new boss Marcelo Gallardo, the ex-Celtic star has failed to meet expectations.

According to Transfermarkt, since joining the Tigers, he has only played 14 games across all competitions, far below what was anticipated. Amidst Ittihad's overall struggles, the 25-year-old has not been able to showcase his previous form.

4. Roberto Firmino

Naturally, Firmino isn't the type to seek personal glory, but given his achievements with Liverpool alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, much was expected of the Brazilian at Al Ahli.

Initially, he made a perfect start by scoring a hat-trick on his debut for the Royals, but then strangely struggled to find the net, going 17 games without a goal.

Although he broke his goal drought with four goals in three league games at the start of 2024, he soon reverted to his previous form.

In summary, the 32-year-old has failed to meet expectations at Al Ahly compared to other top-tier stars like Edouard Mendy and Riyad Mahrez at the Jeddah-based club.

3. Jordan Henderson

Although he's no longer in the Saudi League, the English midfielder's brief stint in the Gulf country was far from pleasant.

Similar to Firmino, his former Liverpool teammate, Henderson, began decently in his new environment, contributing four assists in his initial six matches. However, his performance declined in the following months.

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In conclusion, during his time in Saudi Arabia, the 33-year-old experienced a 10-game winless run with Al Ettifaq before departing to join Ajax Amsterdam in the January transfer window after reaching an agreement to terminate his contract.

2. Neymar

One of the marquee signings in the Saudi Pro League last summer was Neymar Junior. Despite high expectations, Al Hilal has yet to see significant returns on its investment in the Brazilian.

In his three league appearances, Neymar failed to find the back of the net and even missed a penalty against Al-Shabab.

Unfortunately, his debut season in the Middle East was cut short by injury while on international duty, leaving fans disappointed with his premature exit.

Had it not been for the injury, the former Barcelona and PSG superstar might have had the chance to redeem himself after a lacklustre start.

1. Karim Benzema

The Frenchman arrived in Saudi Arabia as a Ballon d'Or holder, but his time with Al-Ittihad has been tumultuous.

From reported clashes with then-manager Espirito Santo to expressing a desire to leave Saudi Arabia and missing penalties, Benzema's debut season in the Pro League has been challenging.

The former Real Madrid captain has managed 16 goal contributions (9 goals and 7 assists) in 18 league appearances, showcasing his quality even amid difficulties.

While these statistics would be impressive for most players, Benzema himself likely hoped for more, particularly considering he plays for the defending league champions.

Ronaldo's hat-trick leads Al-Nassr to dominant win

Sports Brief also reported that Cristiano Ronaldo displayed his exceptional form in front of goal by scoring a second-half hat-trick, leading Al-Nassr to a dominant 5-1 win over Al Tai in the Saudi League on Saturday, March 30.

Despite facing challenges during the international break, Ronaldo rose to the occasion and delivered an outstanding performance, scoring three goals.

His efforts were supported by goals from fellow Portuguese player Otavio and Saudi winger Abdulrahman Ghareeb.