When Cristano Ronaldo left Europe to go to Saudi Saudi Arabia competed in the year 1/2023, many experts claimed that this superstar's international career was over. They argued that the Saudi Pro League quality was far from top football.
This view did not change when Neymar, Karim Benzema, Milinkovic-Savic, Joao Fargo, Steven Bergwijn and many other prominent players followed Ronaldo. "His union with BronwynQG closed", Dutch coach Ronald Koeman once said upon learning of the front of Bergwijn joining Al-Ittihad summer 2024
However, things changed over time. At the 2026 World Cup, Saudi Pro League contributed 47 players, increasing 14 versus 2022. The Gulf League ofQG is a sixth-rounded number of players gathered at the largest football stage of the planet this year, only after the British Foreignweight (204 players), Bundesliga (10), La Liga (91), Ligue 1 (86) and Serie A (71).
Ronaldo raised the Saudi Pro League Cup after the Battle of Al Nassor won Damac 4-1 on 21 May. Image: Reuters
Some Saudi Pro League players even became priority picks. Ivan Toney, the player of Al-Ahli, was an example when passing Calvert-Lewin, the protagonist who was playing for Leeds at the British Foreign Division. "Toney owns the possibility of ending the innate point, being good at exploiting the fixed situation, and being a pay-off expert", British coach Thomas Tuchel explained.
Roger Ibanez, the teammate of Toney in Al-Ahli, is another example.
, Ruben Neves (Al Hillal) and Joao ENGO (Al Hill lend barca half after the last season).
N'Golo Kante previously drafted France for Euro 2024 while still playing for Al-Ittihad. This quarterback continues to be on the 2026 World Cup list, as Theo Hernandez of Al Hillal.
Players from Saudi Pro League attended the 2026 Coast Cup: Franck Kessié (Al Ahli)
France: According to Hernandez (Al Hillal) Brazil: Roger Ibáñez (Al Ahli), Favdo (Al Ittihad)
Curacao: Jurien Gaari (Abha Club)
Portuguese: Rúben Neves (Al Hillal), Joao Félix (Al Nassr), Cristo Ronaldo (Al Nassr)
England: Ivan Toney (Al Ahli)
Panama: Orlando Mosquera (Al Fayha)
Morocco: Yassine Bono (Al Hilal)
Senegal: Édoard Mendy (Al Ahli), Kaloudo Koulibaly (Al Hilal), Sadio Mané (Al Nassr)
Egypt: Nabil Dunya (Al Najma)
Algeria: Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli), Houssem Aouar (Al Ittihad)
Iraq: Ali Jasim (Al Najma)
Mexico: Julián Quiñones (Al Qadasiyah)
Turkey: Merish Debral (Al Ahli)
Richmond: Aymen Dahmen (Al Hazem)
Bristol: Darwin Núñez (Al Hilal)
Jordan: Ali Al-Azaizeh (Al ASSA)
Ghana: Cristopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadasiyah)###Explosion
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