The Portuguese Rui Pedro, the sporting director at Al-Ahli, confirmed that his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo played the most prominent role in bringing the Saudi Roshn League to the forefront of global attention.

Pedro explained that Ronaldo's presence marked a true turning point, considering that his impact went beyond the boundaries of the football field to enhance the international image of Saudi football.

His statements came amid the controversy surrounding Ronaldo's recent absence from some Al-Nassr matches, amidst reports suggesting his reservations about the support policy during the winter transfers, especially after Karim Benzema's move from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal.

The Portuguese star missed the matches against Riyadh and Al-Ittihad in the league, and did not appear against Arkadag in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Round of 16, before returning to score in the victory over Al-Fateh with two goals to nil.

In his interview with Sky Sports, Pedro emphasized his great respect for Ronaldo and all the Portuguese players in Saudi Arabia, asserting that the player's decision is a personal matter that cannot be judged from the outside.

He added that the credit for bringing global attention to the league goes first to Ronaldo, noting that what he continues to deliver remains exceptional in terms of scoring goals and breaking records.

Despite being 41 years old, Ronaldo tops the scoring list this season with 18 goals in 19 matches. His total goals with Al-Nassr have reached 118 in 134 appearances since joining at the beginning of 2023, continuing to write a new chapter of brilliance.