Did Hilal Do More for Saudi Football Than Ronaldo in 2025? A Debate That Split the Nation
26 November 2025
Key Takeaway: Who Helped Saudi Football More?
Saudi broadcaster Walid Al-Farag sparked a heated debate by weighing two defining moments for Saudi football this year: Al Hilal's Club World Cup run and Ronaldo's bicycle goal for Al Nassr against Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League.
He argued that Hilal's performances at the Club World Cup and their run to the quarterfinals elevated the league's profile far more broadly than a single star's highlight.
Hilal delivered stunning displays in the tournament, drawing with Real Madrid, beating Pachuca, drawing with Red Bull Salzburg; in the knockout round they produced a famous 4-3 victory over Manchester City that grabbed global headlines.
Ronaldo recently scored a back-heel bicycle goal to seal a 4-1 win for Al Nassr against Al Fateh, a strike that evoked his famous goal against Juventus when he wore Real Madrid's jersey several years earlier.
Al-Farag, in a TV interview, said: “When Hilal beat Manchester City the focus was on the team and Saudi football; but in Ronaldo's latest goal the focus shifted to the player first, then the club. Who benefits Saudi football more?”
Most Beneficial
The pundit noted the broader question of what brings real benefit to Saudi football: the world’s attention on Hilal’s success helped the league’s growth and a place in the World Cup quarterfinals, over a single goal for a star striker.
The discussion also touched on how such moments translate into broader development for leagues and clubs in the region.
Public Debate and Fan Reactions
The debate sparked a flurry of comments from fans: some Nasr supporters argued Ronaldo's goal was a global highlight; others insisted Hilal's run boosted Saudi football more than any individual performance this year.
“You can't compare Ronaldo's goal with a team's achievements,” wrote a Nasr supporter on X. “Ronaldo's goal is world-class, but Hilal's run boosted the league's reputation.”
“Both have impact in different ways,” argued a Hilal supporter, “Ronaldo is a powerful soft power, while Hilal's trophies cement the league's place in history.”
Ronaldo and the World Cup 2026 Context
Seems Ronaldo escaped a possible ban that could have kept him out of the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Some reports had speculated a three-match suspension after a red card against Ireland; however, Portuguese newspaper Record later reported that FIFA reduced the sanction to one match, sparing him from the World Cup opener unless further action was taken.
He had already missed Portugal's next game against Armenia, but a longer ban did not materialize, preventing a potentially catastrophic setback for his World Cup plans.
Unusual Scene: The Ireland Red Card
In the Ireland game, Ronaldo was sent off in the 62nd minute after a VAR review for elbow contact with an Irish defender, forcing Portugal to finish with 10 men as they trailed 0-2.
Portugal failed to recover, and the dismissal marked Ronaldo's first red card with Portugal in 226 appearances since 2003. The incident, and its later interpretation by FIFA, fueled further debate about penalties and discipline in international play.
Overall, the episode highlighted how a single moment can reshape narratives around a player and a national team in the lead-up to a major tournament.
Punchline 1: If football were a board game, Hilal would own the board and Ronaldo would own the dice.
Punchline 2: And if you think that’s confusing, remember: the referee’s whistle is a universal language—everyone pretends to understand it differently, but the result is the same: three points, maybe viral clips.
