How Saudi Pro League All-Star XI Might Look Featuring Cristiano Ronaldo And Karim Benzema
Clubs in the Saudi Pro League have made some remarkable signings in 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo started the flood when he moved to Al Nassr in January.
Since then, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been joined in Saudi Arabia by the likes of Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Neves.
Ronaldo's first match after he signed for Al Nassr was not actually for his new club.
His grand unveiling came in an all-star game between Paris Saint-Germain and a combined XI of star players from Al Nassr and Al-Hilal.
The game was a brilliant spectacle and ended 5-4 to PSG after goals from Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
It is very likely that the Saudi Pro League will look to stage another all-star exhibition game in the coming months to showcase its talent.
But what might a combined XI of players based in the Saudi Pro League look like if it were to take place today? Possibly something like this...
Saudi Pro League All-Star XI
A visual illustration of how a Saudi Pro League all-star XI might look if it was selected today
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Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli) would be the obvious choice to start in goal. The Senegal stopper won The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper award as recently as 2021 after lifting the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea.
Like many all-star XIs, this team would be very attack-heavy. But Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) would add plenty of star-power to the defense. The Senegal captain may not have dazzled at Chelsea but he was named in the Serie A Team of the Year four times while at Napoli.
Ahmed Hegazi (Al-Ittihad) captained his side to the Saudi Pro League title last season, so he deserves a place alongside Koulibaly in a back three, while Ivory Coast left-back Ghislain Konan (Al Nassr) is also a fine defender.
As good as that back three may be, it would require protection from midfield. Step forward 2018 World Cup winner N'Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad) and 26-year-old Portugal ace Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal).
It would be impossible not to pick both Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) and Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad) up front, even if it is a bit harsh on Morocco striker Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Ittihad), who won the Saudi Pro League's Golden Boot with 21 goals last season.
Former Benfica playmaker Talisca (Al Nassr) was just behind Hamdallah with 20 goals last season, making him a prime candidate to play in the no.10 role.
Meanwhile, former Barcelona and Real Betis flyer Cristian Tello (Al Fateh) is arguably the best winger the Saudi Pro League currently has to offer. Saudi Arabia international Abdulrahman Ghareeb (Al Nassr) is an excellent wide player too.
SEE MORE: Watch Every Cristiano Ronaldo Goal For Al Nassr In 2022/23 Saudi Pro League Season
Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo were teammates at Real Madrid between 2009 and 2018
IMAGO/Jan Huebner