Sport
Alexi Lalas Supports Ronaldo’s View on Saudi Pro League Being Better Than Ligue 1
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.”
Former footballer Thierry Henry has shared his thoughts on Arsenal’s match following their loss to Atlético Madrid on October 13.
Speaking during a brief interview on CBS Sports, Henry criticised the practice of players or coaches expressing certain opinions through the media instead of addressing issues directly within the dressing room.
“I’m not a coach anymore, but I always say, whoever speaks like that, out. Keep that in the dressing room, it’s as simple as that,” Henry said on CBS Sports.
“That is the only way it can work. You have to say those things to a person’s face… going through the press, I am not really a fan of that.”
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, revealing that he hopes the winner will come from his team.
The manager spoke about how hard his players have worked and expressed his belief that they deserve the recognition.
“What I hope is that we win this trophy. We have players who deserve it.”
“Last year, we were the best team. We showed that it wasn’t just Ousmane Dembélé who deserved it.”
French football pundit Walid Acherchour has named Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparking reactions among football fans.
Acherchour’s choice came as a surprise to some fans, who expected him to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé instead.
Speaking about his prediction, Acherchour expressed confidence in Yamal’s chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
“For me, Lamine Yamal, he is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. For me, there’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour said, as quoted by Actu Foot. That start to the season shows that in fact, he was injured during the World Cup. He was the best player in La Liga, and he won the World Cup.
“Even if, for me, in fact, he doesn’t have the Ballon d’Or unanimously because his World Cup was average, even being average, he won it with Spain. He won La Liga with Barça.”
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