Cristiano Ronaldo and N’Golo Kante Lead Saudi Pro League Stars at Euro 2024 Dispelling Narrative of “Killing Their Careers” With Standout Performances
According to Opta, which collects sports data globally, the Saudi Pro League ranks 26th globally. At the Euro 2024, however, Saudi-based players have been performing exceptionally, a testament to a league that was termed by some as a “career killer.”
N’Golo Kante, a player who was once out of the French national team for two years, has made a remarkable comeback. His two Man of the Match awards in the first two fixtures of Euro 2024, including a last-minute game-winning tackle, are a testament to his resilience and the quality of the Saudi Pro League.
The Saudi Pro League is not just about one type of player. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, a defensive powerhouse, covered 13.9km for Serbia against England. Nicolae Stanciu, a creative force, was another Man of the Match recipient after opening the scoring in Romania’s 3-0 victory over Ukraine. These diverse contributions challenge the narrative of the Saudi Pro League as a ‘career killer ‘.
Often called selfish, Cristiano Ronaldo has been everything but so far for Portugal. The Al Nassr forward played the full 90 against the Czech Republic and selflessly assisted Bruno Fernandes in their victory over Turkey.
National team managers at Euro 2024 have ignored labels of the Saudi Pro League as a career killer with 14 Saudi-based players at the tournament, ahead of the Eredivisie, the Turkish Super Lig, and the Portuguese Primera Liga. Whether one or more of the 14 Saudi-based players manage to lift the European Championship will remain to be seen.
