Cristiano Ronaldo Told to "Shut Up" and "Enjoy Your Retirement" by World Cup Winner

Cristiano Ronaldo has been told to "shut up" following his recent claims that the Saudi Pro League is superior to Ligue 1 in France.

Ronaldo said in January at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai: "I think right now we are better than France's league."

This was not the first time Ronaldo had made such a statement.

Former France defender Frank Leboeuf believes that Ronaldo chose to criticize Ligue 1 in an attempt to discredit his long-term rival Lionel Messi, who spent two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain between 2021 and 2023.

Leboeuf - who played in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg from 1992 to 1996 before moving to Chelsea - told BetVictor: "It annoys me when I hear Cristiano Ronaldo saying that the Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1.

"Why do you think he chose to make that comment about Ligue 1 rather than the Portuguese League? It's because Lionel Messi played in Ligue 1. I have lots of respect for him as a player but come on, just shut up! It is unfair to Ligue 1."

Ronaldo has played in Portugal's Primeira Liga, England's Premier League, Spain's La Liga and Serie A in Italy.

But he is currently based in Saudi Arabia after joining Al Nassr just over a year ago.

He has so far netted 48 times in 55 games for Al Nassr, taking his overall career tally to 877 goals.

Of those 877 goals, 128 have come while playing for Portugal.

Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in senior men's international football, but Leboeuf believes that Portugal are now better off without the 39-year-old.

Leboeuf - who won the 1998 FIFA World Cup with France, as well as Euro 2000 - added: "For me, Portugal are actually one of the contenders for this summer's European Championships. I actually think they can win the Euros, but only if Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't play.

"You cannot take away anything that Ronaldo has done for football just because he has gone to retire in the Saudi League. I want to thank him for taking the sport to another level, but there is an end for everyone. He has every right to play in Saudi Arabia, although I'm not sure he needed even more money!"

While Ronaldo is now based in Saudi Arabia, Messi, 36, has chosen to spend the twilight years of his playing career in the USA with Inter Miami.

Leboeuf also left Europe towards the end of his playing career.

After playing for Strasbourg, Chelsea and Marseille in the 1990s and early 2000s, Leboeuf represented Al-Sadd and Al Wakrah in Qatar.

He then made multiple appearances for Hollywood United in Los Angeles following his retirement from competitive football.

Leboeuf said: "I have no problem with players coming to the end of their careers going to play in lesser leagues to earn more money, the same has happened with Lionel Messi.

"Both of them were fantastic players but they have chosen not to play at the top level anymore and we have to respect that.

"You can never take away what they have done for football. The competition between those two actually made the entire sport better. It made it more attractive.

"Thank you Ronaldo, thank you Messi, enjoy your retirement!"