Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent protest, Al Hilal still found a way to strengthen by signing Karim Benzema, a move that has raised serious questions about balance and fairness in the Saudi Pro League.
Softfootball has examined how power, money and players are distributed among the four clubs owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF): Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli. At present, Al Hilal sit top of the league and have now added Benzema to their squad, while Al Nassr currently second and led by Ronaldo have not received any reinforcements to maintain competitiveness.
This has fueled concerns that Ronaldo’s presence is being used more as a marketing tool to grow the league’s global appeal rather than to build a genuinely competitive team around him. Many fans are questioning how it makes sense for one ownership group to control four of the league’s biggest clubs, yet strengthen one while leaving another weakened.
Some supporters have likened the situation to the Grammy Awards, where Nigerian artists generate massive hype and engagement but often fail to win, while the event benefits from the global attention. In a similar way, fans believe Ronaldo’s influence and popularity are being used to elevate the league, even if he is not positioned to win major honours.
Ronaldo’s protest has intensified scrutiny. If Benzema is sent to Al Hilal, fans argue that balance would require similar reinforcements across all four PIF-owned clubs Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli to keep the title race fair and competitive.
Benzema has reportedly signed a 1.5-year deal with Al Hilal, a move widely seen as a strategic decision to ensure they win the Saudi Pro League this season. While Ronaldo remains close in the title race, strengthening Al Hilal without reinforcing Al Nassr risks tipping the balance further, increasing Al Hilal’s advantage and exposing Al Nassr’s growing weakness.
As the season unfolds, Softfootball continues to monitor whether these decisions will push Ronaldo closer to an exit — or confirm fears that his role is more about building the league than winning it.
