Cristiano Ronaldo has declared his inention to stay in Saudi Arabia until 2034, a country he claims 'he belongs to' after extending his deal with Al Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his belief that the 2034 Men's World Cup, set to be held in Saudi Arabia, will be the "most beautiful" edition of the tournament ever.
The 40-year-old forward recently signed a two-year contract extension with Al Nassr, the Saudi Pro League club he joined in January 2023.
Ronaldo, who has consistently championed the Saudi Pro League, claiming its superiority over Ligue 1, reiterated his confidence in its growth. "We are already a top-five league," he stated in a club interview.
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"We've shown improvement over the past two years, and it will continue. This league is very competitive. Only those unfamiliar with Saudi football would disagree."
He emphasized his commitment to the Saudi league and its long-term vision. "I believe in this project, not just for the next two years, but through 2034 and the World Cup in Saudi Arabia. I believe it will be the most beautiful World Cup ever."
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However, the awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia has drawn criticism from human rights groups, echoing concerns raised during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Issues include the treatment of migrant workers, women, and the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Sustainability, weather conditions, and the potential supporter experience have also been questioned.
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Despite these concerns, FIFA's evaluation report rated Saudi Arabia's bid as the strongest ever, grading the country's human rights risk as "medium." Amnesty International's Steve Cockburn condemned the report as "an astonishing whitewash." Similar criticisms arose during the Qatar World Cup, with FIFA urging participants to "focus on the football."
The Saudi government maintains that its investment in sports aims to create economic opportunities, improve public health, and develop sporting infrastructure.
One stated goal is to dramatically increase the number of registered male football players. However, critics argue that these initiatives are part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 plan, designed to diversify the economy, improve the country's international image, and appease its growing young population.
Securing the 2034 World Cup is seen as a key component of this strategy.
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