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Al-Hilal have said “a lot has been done” and “more to come” after Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema marked his arrival at the Saudi Pro League giants with a video message to fans.
Benzema – who will receive football’s most prestigious individual prize in 2022 – signed for the top-flight leaders on Monday, amid reports that Cristiano Ronaldo missed the Al-Nasr game suggesting the Portugal captain is unhappy with his club’s lack of transfer activity.
Al-Nasr manager Jorge Jesus, who led them to a 10-match unbeaten start in the Saudi Pro League, will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of his first season in charge due to “current circumstances that make it difficult to meet his technical demands”, according to Al-Riyadh.
The outlet said negotiations over two transfers requested by the Portuguese in early January have stalled.
Al-Nasr, said to be facing a “lack of funds” and “leaning towards closing the Saudi transfer window”, bought 21-year-old midfielder Haider Abdulkarim from Iraqi side Al-Zawra before the Saudi transfer window closed on Monday.
MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo: The face of Saudi football, disrespect and what happens now
Karim Benzema: Al Hilal complete transfer
Benzema rejected a new deal at Al-Ittihad, with whom the 38-year-old won last season’s Saudi Pro League and King’s Cup, in favor of joining Al-Hilal, who are one point above Al-Nasr at the summit after 19 matches of the 34-game season.
“Big name,” Al-Hilal said in a social media post sharing photos of Benzema posing in a club scarf. “Big ambitions.”
In a video message, Benzema said: “Hi, fans. How are you? I’m happy to be here. I just landed from Jeddah. I’ll see you soon.”
Big name.. Big ambitions 💙
Welcome, 𝐁KEY pic.twitter.com/SooNiFUz57
— Alhilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) February 3, 2026
Benzema vs Ronaldo
Benzema has scored eight goals in 14 league appearances this season – one behind Al-Hilal top scorer Marcos Leonardo – and 16 goals in 21 games overall.
Ronaldo has scored 17 goals in 18 league matches and 18 goals in 22 matches in all competitions. Ivan Toney’s 18 goals for Al-Ahly make the former England striker the leading marksman in the Saudi Pro League 2025/26.
Benzema is yet to register an assist this season but has provided nine in 2024/25, all in the league. One in three of Ronaldo’s assists in 2025/26 has been in the league, with three of his four assists coming in the division last season.
Cristiano Ronaldo contract
Ronaldo has yet to win a Saudi title despite top-scoring in the top flight in each of his two full seasons with Al-Nasr, potentially backed by the country’s public investment fund.
Shortly after Al-Nasr finished third last season – 13 points behind Al-Ittihad – Ronaldo strongly hinted on social media that he had played his final game for the club.
He signed a new contract exactly one month after scoring in Portugal’s victorious Nations League semi-final win over Germany and in the final against Spain.
The five-time Champions League winner scored 35 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions for Al-Nasr in 2024/25.
Cristiano Ronaldo Salary, Wages
On financial website Forbes’ all-time list of the highest-paid athletes in a year, only boxer Floyd Mayweather surpasses Ronaldo, who pocketed an estimated $300 million (£226m) in 2015 and $285m (£214.5m) in 2018.
Ronaldo is said to have surpassed $1 billion (£771m) in career earnings two years before he became the most high-profile footballer to fly to Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo’s first Al-Nasr deal was widely reported to be worth £14.75m a month or £3.4m a week. His annual salary is said to be £177m a year, which makes up £62m for his football salary, supplemented by professional bonuses.
Ronaldo has a variety of lucrative sponsorship deals with his recent endorsements including Hoop, video game UFL and cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
Karim Benzema Real Madrid Stats
Benzema’s 354 goals in 14 years for Real Madrid make him the second-highest scorer behind former teammate Ronaldo, who scored 451.
The 2022 World Cup runner-up with France has said in interviews that he sees himself as an ambassador for football in Saudi Arabia who could help attract more elite European footballers to the league.
After leaving Madrid a year before the end of his contract, Benzema joined Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract in 2023.
Karim Benzema in Saudi Arabia
Benzema’s first season in Saudi Arabia saw 13 goals and eight assists in 29 appearances, which fell short of his lofty standards as Al-Ittihad endured a turbulent 2023/24, finishing trophyless and sacking current Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo in November.
Former Barcelona sporting director Ramon Pleas joined the nine-time champions in the same role he held at the Spanish giants in January 2024 and will take over in 2024/25 after former Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc took over in July.
Benzema scored 25 times in 33 appearances in all competitions last season, including 21 in the league. Ronaldo’s 25 goals earned him the Golden Boot of the Saudi Pro League.
Karim Benzema salary, wages, contract
Benzema’s Al-Ittihad deal entitled the club to pay him up to $100 million (around £83m). The Athletic.
He was reported to be considering retirement last season and has said in interviews that he sees himself as an ambassador for football in Saudi Arabia who could help attract more elite European footballers to the league.
Benzema turned down offers to return to Europe as his image rights deal sees him in Saudi Arabia until 2030. ESPN.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Al Nasr Fixer
Al-Nasr are next in action at home to Al-Ittihad on Friday (17:30 GMT). Two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane scored the only goal of the game – set up by Portugal forward Joao Felix – in their 1-0 win at Al-Riyadh on Monday.
Al-Hilal remained unbeaten in the league but were held to a third consecutive draw with a goalless stalemate at Al-Ahli on the same day.
Al-Hazem host Simon Inzaghi’s side on Thursday (17:30 GMT). The matches are shown live on the YouTube channel of the Saudi Pro League.
