Cristiano Ronaldo trolled! Ligue 1 fires back at CR7's Saudi Pro League comparison on social media with cheeky Kylian Mbappe image

Ronaldo stirred controversy by asserting that the Saudi Pro League (SPL) is superior to the French top flight during the 2023 Globe Soccer Awards.

"The Saudi league is not worse than Ligue 1," he said. "The Saudi Pro League is more competitive than Ligue 1, I can say that after one year spent there. We are better than the French league already now."

In response, Ligue 1's official account on X shared a photo of Kylian Mbappe holding Ronaldo's face, from a friendly match between Paris Saint-Germain and Al-Nassr in January 2023, where PSG won 5-4.

Ronaldo picked up three individual awards including Best Goalscorer, Fans' Favourite Player of the Year, and Best Middle East Player during the event. His comments come in the aftermath of Jordan Henderson's forced exit from the SPL to return to Europe after the midfielder allegedly failed to adapt to the lifestyle in Dammam.

Ronaldo has had a prolific stint with Al Nassr, making 44 appearances, scoring 38 goals, and providing 13 assists since his arrival. In 2023, he clinched the title of the world's top scorer, outperforming notable players like Erling Haaland and Mbappe. He has showcased his talent across Europe playing in Portugal, England, and Italy during his illustrious career where he has been crowned the continent's champion on five occasions.

Ronaldo will return to action against Shanghai Shenhua in a friendly on January 24 as the SPL is on a break due to the ongoing AFC Asian Cup. However, all eyes are already on February 1 when he will cross paths with Lionel Messi during a prestige-friendly with Inter Miami.