Saudi Arabia spent around a billion euros on Ronaldo and other stars. On the move in a country that could become serious competition for the big football nations.
Loudspeaker Listen to article Football star Cristiano Ronaldo at the Saudi National Day on September 23rd in Riyadh © Al Nassr Saudi Football Club/Anadolu Agency/Picture-Alliance
Abdullah and his friends don’t seem to be able to fully believe what’s happening. With them, their football, their country. They are fans of Al-Hilal, the most successful team in Saudi Arabia. For many years they could only admire the biggest stars of world football on television because they all played in Europe. In just over an hour, however, some of these players will be playing at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh. The most prominent: Cristiano Ronaldo, five-time world footballer, seven-time Champions League winner. “This is crazy,” says Abdullah.
