According to reports, Mohamed Al-Deayea, the Saudi football legend, praised Cristiano Ronaldo in a televised interview, saying: “Ronaldo is the only foreign player who, after Rivellino, came to Saudi football and showed his loyalty to his team, the host country, and the Saudi project.”

He continued: “Ronaldo has proven to be a unique player; not just because of his outstanding technical performance, but also because of his genuine loyalty to Saudi football. He has never seen himself as superior to others, has performed his duties with the utmost professionalism, and has always spoken positively about Saudi Arabia in global forums.”

Al-Deayea added: “He is an irreplaceable player, and we should thank him. His presence has made the world pay special attention to the Saudi league.”

Ronaldo scored in Al-Nassr’s 4-1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals.

Al-Deayea commented on the goal: “Ronaldo is a very intelligent player; he knows how to position himself and disrupt defenders’ focus. With his vast experience, he exploits opportunities well, and it seems the ball loves him too.”

Finally, regarding Ronaldo’s chances of reaching 1,000 career goals, he said: “Cristiano is one of the greatest players in history and doesn’t need my praise, but given his age of 40, I doubt he can reach the 1,000-goal milestone.”