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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Controversial comments made by Portuguese star</li><li>Suggested that Saudi Pro League is stronger</li><li>Four French clubs impressing on European stage</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Are you watching Cristiano Ronaldo? Ligue 1 trolls CR7 as PSG, Monaco, Brest and Lille all secure Champions League progress

<p>Five-time Ballon d’Or winner <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/france-only-psg-cristiano-ronaldo-insists-saudi-pro-league-superior-finished-ligue-1/blt109c32cd8cd619e8#csd3cd636aef10ed19" target="_blank">Ronaldo said at the Globe Soccer Awards</a> in late December 2024: "The Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1, of course. I'm not saying that because I play here. I don't care what people think about it. Players should come here and they will see quickly. Just try to do sprints at 38, 39, 40 degrees… Come and you will see. If you don't believe me, come. In France, they only have PSG, everyone else is finished. Nobody can beat them because they have the most money and the best players."</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Said comments have attracted criticism, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wont-waste-time-zlatan-ibrahimovic-brutal-response-cristiano-ronaldo-ligue-1-criticism-psg-legend-al-nassr-star-no-evidence-saudi-pro-league/blt5ca2ea5c339f4099" target="_blank">Zlatan Ibrahimovic among those to have bitten back</a>, and nobody in France is buying Ronaldo’s suggestion that the top tier in Saudi Arabia is stronger than one of European football’s leading leagues.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Ligue 1 has proved as much in elite continental competition this term. Lille are <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/champions-league-2024-25-power-rankings/bltf41e9a385718e265" target="_blank">safely through to the last-16</a> after finishing seventh in the Champions League group stage, while Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and Brest are all readying themselves for <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/champions-league-knockout-round-play-off-ties-last-16-fixtures-man-city-real-madrid-bayern-munich-arsenal-liverpool-barcelona/bltbeaeac5541302b82" target="_blank">the knockout play-offs</a>. With that in mind, Ronaldo has been offered a reminder of how competitive the division is.</p><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is Ligue 1 😎🕺 <a href="https://t.co/ompOMtquNW">pic.twitter.com/ompOMtquNW</a></p>— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ligue1_ENG/status/1884734229780574354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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DID YOU KNOW?

<p>PSG – who saw <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/neymar-experienced-hell-lionel-messi-psg-failing-make-history-france/blt4f8f102bcb47e63b" target="_blank">Lionel Messi spend two years on their books</a> between 2021 and 2023 – were <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-links-psg-shut-down-january-transfer-rumour-cr7-saudi-pro-league/blta3b17483ca95bc25" target="_blank">linked with a move for CR7</a> at one stage, as his contract at Al-Nassr runs down. The evergreen 39-year-old is, however, expected to agree an <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-agrees-extend-al-nassr-contract-neymar-al-hilal-highest-paid-player-football-history/blt6f4903f86d02e6b5" target="_blank">extension to his record-breaking deal</a> in the Middle East.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Are you watching Cristiano Ronaldo? Ligue 1 trolls CR7 as PSG, Monaco, Brest and Lille all secure Champions League progress | Goal.com India

Ligue 1 has trolled Cristiano Ronaldo, on the back of his recent comments about the division, after seeing four clubs enjoy Champions League progress.