Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January 2023, following the end of his second spell at Manchester United. The move was one of the most closely followed transfers in recent football history, and it is widely regarded as the single moment that brought sustained international attention to the Saudi Pro League.
A catalyst for further signings
In the period that followed, several other established international players joined Saudi Pro League clubs, a trend frequently linked back to the visibility Ronaldo’s move generated. Beyond the immediate transfer activity, his continued presence in the league has kept Saudi football in international headlines in a way that would have been unlikely before his arrival.