Karim Benzema joins Al Hilal: How the transfer caused a Ronaldo riot in Saudi

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema once ruled Europe side by side, trading goals, trophies and headlines in Real Madrid white.

In Saudi Arabia, they are still shaping the story, only now the drama is coming as much off the pitch as on it. What should have been a routine phase of the season has turned into a reminder that superstar footballers arrive with strong opinions, bigger expectations and zero patience for imbalance.

On Monday, Benzema officially joined Al-Hilal after terminating his contract with Al-Ittihad. The move followed weeks of uncertainty, with local reports suggesting the French striker had no interest in extending his deal after feeling underwhelmed by renewal talks. He had already missed Al-Ittihad’s previous two league matches, and once that happened, the ending felt inevitable.

From a footballing lens, Benzema leaves Al-Ittihad having done his job and more. He led the Jeddah club to a historic domestic double last season, lifting the Saudi Pro League and the King’s Cup for the first time in their history.

Even this season, at 38, he remained decisive, scoring 16 goals in 21 matches across competitions. Al-Hilal, already top of the table, have simply added another serial winner to a squad that already looks frighteningly complete.

Benzema’s switch tilts the league

Al-Hilal sit on 47 points, just one ahead of Al-Nassr, but the gap feels far wider than that. Al-Ittihad, meanwhile, have slipped to sixth, a sharp contrast to where they stood a year ago. Benzema’s arrival does not just strengthen Al-Hilal, it reinforces a growing feeling that the league’s balance is tilting heavily in one direction.

That feeling is exactly what has pushed Cristiano Ronaldo to the edge.

Reports from Portugal and Saudi Arabia suggest Ronaldo has refused to play for Al-Nassr despite being fully fit. This is not a rebellion against his club. Al-Nassr’s CEO Jose Semedo is one of Ronaldo’s closest allies, and there is no sense of internal chaos. The issue, instead, sits above club level.

Ronaldo’s protest sends a message

Ronaldo’s frustration is reportedly aimed at the Public Investment Fund, which controls Saudi Arabia’s biggest clubs. Since 2023, Al-Hilal’s spending has dwarfed that of Al-Nassr.

Benzema’s move to Al Hilal has only sharpened the contrast, pointing fingers at the issue of some teams being pushed ahead while others are left to make do.

For Ronaldo, this is about competitiveness. He wants a squad capable of winning silverware that has eluded his Saudi chapter.

However, this move from Ronaldo also has a risk-factor for the Portuguese superstar.

Refusing to play while fully fit is a gamble, especially at 40, with match sharpness vital and a World Cup looming on the horizon. Every missed game slows his march toward 1,000 career goals and invites questions. But his actions seem to be sticking firmly to the – back the project properly, or accept the fallout.

The situation leaves the league in an awkward spotlight. Benzema strengthens a dominant Al-Hilal. Ronaldo’s protest exposes cracks in the entiree Saudi Pro League system, just when it was getting some recognition in the world of football.

Even managers have hinted publicly at favouritism, adding weight to Ronaldo's argument.

In the end, this feels less like a transfer saga and more like a reality check for Saudi football, and that is not a good image for the FIFA World Cup 2034 hosts.

Star power can light up stadiums, but what do you do when they raise uncomfortable questions?

The Saudi Pro League now has a choice. Fix the balance and keep the stars smiling, or risk watching its brightest names turn away.