Former Premier League star defends Cristiano Ronaldo and Saudi Pro League after Portuguese icon passed 900 career goals – as he tells the critics to ‘look at the data’

Former Premier League star Ruben Neves has defended the Saudi Pro League (SPL) after Cristiano Ronaldo passed 900 career goals.

Neves, 27, moved to Al-Hilal last summer despite interest from several Premier League sides as he became the latest player to head to the SPL.

His transfer came after Ronaldo was the first major name to move to the Middle East, but the Portuguese superstar’s time with Al-Nassr has been accompanied by claims that he is playing in a so-called ‘easier’ league and is no longer the star he once was.

Ronaldo has scored 62 goals and added 17 assists in just 68 games for the Saudi side, yet he was also heavily criticised at Euro 2024 after he failed to score as Portugal crashed out at the quarter-final stage to France.

However, the 39-year-old netted his 900th and 901st career goals against Croatia and Scotland in recent days and Neves insisted that Ronaldo’s continued success demonstrates the strength of the SPL.

Ronaldo netted against Croatia and Scotland but has faced significant criticism in recent years

The 39-year-old has been accused of playing in a so-called ‘easier’ league with Al-Nassr

‘I invite those people [critics] to watch Saudi football,’ Neves, who won the league with Al-Hilal last season, said.

The former Wolves captain even went on to hint that the standard in the Middle East is not far from the Premier League.

He added: ‘I have said this a few times – if you compare my GPS data from English football to Saudi football, I run even more, but with the difference that I run in 40 degrees [Celsius]. 

‘I am in good shape physically. Both Cristiano and I proved that Saudi football has quality.’

Ronaldo’s 900th goal came against Croatia, before his 901st was a late winner against Scotland on Monday and the Al-Nassr star has quickly set his sights on becoming the first ever player to reach 1,000 career goals.

And Neves – who is a team-mate of Ronaldo’s at international level – felt that was most certainly a realistic target for his country’s greatest ever player.

‘Of course it is possible,’ the midfielder added. ‘He is already on goal 901 and with Cristiano anything is possible.’

Neves plays for SPL champions Al-Hilal and urged critics of the league to ‘look at the data’ 

Neves has quickly set his sights on becoming the first player in history to score 1,000 goals

Meanwhile, speaking last year, Ronaldo – who has 132 goals in 214 international caps – echoed Neves’ thoughts that the SPL is a strong league, and similarly felt it could become one of the best divisions in the world.

‘I think other small things they need to improve,’ he said. ‘But I am happy here, I want to continue here, I will continue here. 

‘And in my opinion if they continue to do the work that they want to do here, for the next five years, I think the Saudi league can be a top five league in the world.’

Neves’ Al-Hilal are currently top of the SPL after two wins from two, while Al-Nassr and Ronaldo have four points from their first two games.