Saudi Arabian football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has issued a public call for darts sensation Luke Littler to consider a move to the Kingdom’s burgeoning darts scene, urging the teenage superstar to “make serious money” and leave behind what he described as the “rotting” environment of English darts.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who currently captains Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, made the comments ahead of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, where Littler is the headline act.
“The Opportunity is Massive”
Ronaldo, known for his own high-profile move to the Middle East, lavished praise on the 19-year-old world number one, drawing comparisons between their shared drive for greatness.
“I see a lot of myself in him—the hunger, the talent,” Ronaldo stated in a press conference. “Luke Littler is already a global superstar, but he can become a legend here. The Saudi league is growing, the investment is unmatched, and the lifestyle is unbeatable. Why would he waste his best years rotting in England when he can come here and take over the world while earning what he deserves?”
The comments come as Littler is competing in Riyadh for the first time, vying for a lucrative $200,000 bonus if he can hit a nine-dart finish followed by a “golden bullseye” . The teenager recently signed a £20 million contract with Target Darts and won a record £1 million for his second World Championship title . Despite this, Ronaldo suggested the financial ceiling in Saudi is higher.
Littler’s Saudi Dream
The invitation couldn’t come at a better time. Littler, a lifelong Manchester United fan, has repeatedly expressed his desire to meet Ronaldo . He admitted at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony: “There’s only one person who I’d like to meet and that’s Cristiano Ronaldo” .
Ahead of the tournament, Littler confirmed his hopes that Ronaldo would attend the darts in Riyadh. “Yeah, it’d be huge. Hopefully he’s not busy and he can come and watch us,” Littler said .
A Shift in the Landscape?
Ronaldo’s comments have sent shockwaves through the darts world, echoing his own move from Manchester United to Al-Nassr in 2022, which opened the floodgates for other football stars heading to the region .
While Ronaldo’s endorsement of a “Saudi Darts League” is not yet an official plan, it aligns with the Kingdom’s aggressive push into major sports, having already hosted boxing, UFC, and high-profile snooker events featuring the “Riyadh Season golden ball” .
Whether Littler will heed the call remains uncertain. Currently dominating the PDC circuit and winning back-to-back World Championships, he is at the pinnacle of the sport . However, with Ronaldo literally “courting” him, the prospect of a mega-money switch is now firmly on the table.