Former American footballer Alexi Lalas has come to the defense of Cristiano Ronaldo following his recent remarks the Saudi Pro League (SPL), claiming it is better than France’s Ligue 1.

Ronaldo made the comment after receiving the Best Middle Eastern Player award at a December gala, where he also took the opportunity to highlight that Paris Saint-Germain was the only prominent club in Ligue 1, saying, “Everyone else is finished.”

However, Lalas, speaking on his podcast, explained that Ronaldo’s comments were valid, especially in regards to the unique challenges of playing in the Middle Eastern climate.

Lalas said, “I like that he is defending Saudi Arabia.

I like that he has taken this unconventional pathway, notwithstanding how much money he’s making.

It’s not as traditional as the past, and it has shown him some of the challenges out there; both on and off the field, when playing in leagues that many people don’t fully understand or appreciate.”

Drawing from his experience with Major League Soccer (MLS), Lalas added, “From an MLS perspective, I can appreciate it.

There are unique challenges that players face in leagues like Saudi Arabia that others often overlook.

I can guarantee there are difficulties players encounter there that are hard to comprehend unless you’ve experienced them.”