Saudi Arabia's Cristiano Ronaldo was not selected by the world's leading data company Opta for the 2022-2023 team of the season, despite scoring 14 goals in 16 matches.
Saudi Pro League 2022-2023 Team of the Tournament and the average score of each player. Photo: Opta
Opta selected players based on the highest average rating in each position. The three forwards were Firas Al-Buraikan, Odion Ighalo and Mourad Batna. The sixth-placed Al Fateh duo Firas Al-Buraikan and Mourad Batna both averaged 8, while Odion Ighalo, a striker for third-placed Al Hilal, scored 7.8.
In 2020, Ighalo joined Man Utd on loan from Shanghai Shenhua. Last season, the 33-year-old Nigerian striker finished third in the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot race with 19 goals, five more than Ronaldo. The two leading scorers in the Golden Boot race, Al Ittihad's Abderrazak Hamdallah with 21 goals and Al Nassr's Talisca with 20 goals, were also absent from the best XI.
Ronaldo's team Al Nassr only had one player in the best XI, Luiz Gustavo. The 35-year-old Brazilian midfielder averaged 8.3.
Newly crowned Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad have five players in their squad: midfielder Romarinho, defenders Ahmed Hegazi, Ahmed Sharahili, Al Olayan and goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe. The remaining two spots are taken by a pair from fifth-placed Al Taawoun: midfielder Kaku and left-back Konan.
Ronaldo celebrates scoring in Al Nassr's 3-2 win over Al Shabab on May 23. Photo: Reuters
In January, Ronaldo moved to Al Nassr on a contract until 2025, with the highest salary in the world (around $200 million a year, including salary, bonuses and endorsements for Saudi Arabia). But, from leading the Saudi Pro League, Al Nassr finished second with 67 points, five points behind champions Al Ittihad. They also lost in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup and the semi-finals of the King's Cup.
Ronaldo scored 145 goals for Man Utd, 450 for Real Madrid, 101 for Juventus and 122 for Portugal. His collection includes 32 collective titles, including one Euro, five Champions Leagues, three Premier Leagues, two La Ligas and two Serie A. But since 2021, the 38-year-old striker no longer has the feeling of winning. His most recent title was the 2020-2021 Italian Cup with Juventus.
Thanh Quy (according to Opta )
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