Argentine football legend and Inter Milan vice-president Javier Zanetti praised the tremendous development taking place in Saudi Arabia in the sports sector, describing it as a "great country" that is steadily moving towards global recognition.
In exclusive statements to Al Arabiya channel, Zanetti confirmed that what has been happening in the Saudi Professional League during the past few years is a remarkable qualitative leap, noting that the efforts made to develop Saudi football have begun to bear fruit clearly before the whole world.
Predictions for a historic World Cup in 2034
The former Argentine star also spoke about the Kingdom's upcoming hosting of the 2034 World Cup, expressing great optimism about the success of this global event. Zanetti said, "Saudi Arabia is making tremendous efforts to develop its sports infrastructure, and I expect the 2034 World Cup to be a special and exceptional edition, perhaps even surpassing all previous tournaments in terms of organization.".
Zanetti’s remarks are in line with the major sporting movement that the Kingdom is experiencing as part of the “Vision 2030” objectives, as Saudi Arabia prepares to be the first country to host the World Cup on its own with a system of 48 teams, which requires logistical preparations and stadiums with world-class specifications, a challenge that Zanetti believes the Kingdom is capable of overcoming with distinction.
The Roshan League has evolved and attracted stars
In a related context, the Inter Milan icon highlighted the growing appeal of the Saudi league, stating, "The league is witnessing remarkable development, and I expect more international players to join it in the near future." These remarks are supported by the current reality of the league, which now boasts some of the world's best players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema, thus increasing the competition's market and technical value and making it a focus of attention for fans worldwide.
A historical testament to development
Zanetti concluded his remarks with a historical comparison reflecting the scale of the transformation, recalling his visit to the Kingdom three decades ago: "I played a match in Saudi Arabia 30 years ago, and today I see tremendous development in the infrastructure as well as in the level of Saudi players." This memory likely stems from Zanetti's participation with the Argentine national team in the King Fahd Cup (later the Confederations Cup) in the mid-1990s, making him a firsthand witness to the urban and sporting boom that has transformed the Kingdom into a global sporting destination.
