Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr were held to a draw at Al Khaleej, letting Gabriel Martinelli's hat-trick send Al Hilal top of the Saudi Pro League.

A new global transfer spending study has placed Al-Hilal above some of Europe’s biggest clubs, underlining just how aggressively Saudi Arabia’s leading clubs have invested since the league entered a new era.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr has found itself in an unexpected position in the latest financial snapshot of the Saudi Pro League, with the club falling sharply in the global rankings for squad acquisition costs.

The Portuguese superstar’s finish against Abha helped extend a goalscoring run that has survived for almost three years, carrying Al-Nassr closer to a piece of world soccer history.

While several of its biggest rivals continue to strengthen their squads, Al-Nassr has been left watching from the sidelines as the gap around the top of Saudi soccer grows increasingly noticeable.

Cristiano Ronaldo could reportedly suffer a change of venue for the next game between Al Nassr and Al Hilal for the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League, moving the derby away from Al Awwal Park.

The Al-Hilal striker, who left Aston Villa in a $69 million move, made an immediate impression alongside Ronaldo’s rival club Al-Nassr, adding another intriguing chapter to the growing debate over the standard of soccer in Saudi Arabia.

With Ollie Watkins officially unveiled as new Al Hilal player, Karim Benzema's fate at the club has been sealed, with reports even weighing the possibility of the Frenchman retiring after his contract termination.

With Karim Benzema's future still in the air, Cristiano Ronaldo could see SPL rival Al Hilal stregthen their squad with Premier League stars Ollie Watkins and Gabriel Martinelli.

Darwin Nunez joined Al Hilal in August 2025 as a marquee signing, but just one year later, he has agreed to a season-long Saudi Pro League loan to newly promoted Al Diriyah.

A sensational move to Inter Miami has been floated as a possible next chapter for the Frenchman, although the situation surrounding his future is far more complicated than the glamorous destination might suggest.

With Karim Benzema's future up in the air, Al Hilal could make a major move by signing Gabriel Martinelli to counter Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have shared the Saudi Pro League spotlight since their moves to the Middle East, but the latest development surrounding the Frenchman's future could take their rivalry in a completely unexpected direction.

The league is entering a new financial phase, with clubs becoming more cautious about how much they spend on first-team players while still trying to maintain the star power that has transformed the competition in recent years.

Cristiano Ronaldo could suffer a major blow in the Saudi Pro league as the conditions for an eventual departure of Karim Benzema from Al Hilal following the substitution drama have reportedly emerged.