Cristiano Ronaldo bizarrely helps British singer soar to the top of Saudi Arabia music charts

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has taken Saudi Arabia by storm since his move last winter

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 23/10/2023

- 14:36

The Portugal international currently plays for Al-Nassr out in the Middle East

Amy Macdonald is currently top of the Spotify charts in Saudi Arabia - and it's all thanks to footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Jordan Henderson.

The 36-year-old soared to prominence in the 2000s with singles such as 'This Is the Life' and 'Don't Tell Me That It's Over'.


And it's the first song that has now catapulted her back into the spotlight.

On TikTok, football fans have been compiling clips of footballers such as Ronaldo and Henderson with the tune in the background.

Amy Macdonald

Amy Macdonald is top of the Saudi Arabia Spotify charts thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo and Jordan Henderson

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The song has now consequently risen to No 1 on the Spotify Charts in Saudi.

And Macdonald, speaking on the Restless Natives podcast, has been left taken aback by her sudden surge in popularity.

"What is nuts is that song is currently number one in Saudi Arabia," she said.

"I had started noticing I was getting a lot of comments in Arabic on social media.

"I was like 'It looks lovely but I've got no idea what it says' and there was just more and more of it.

"Somebody looked into it and there seems to be a lot of videos on social media using This Is The Life that are like Ronaldo playing football in Saudi Arabia.

"I said to one of my mates about it and they sent me a Photoshop of Jordan Henderson wearing an Amy Macdonald t-shirt."

Macdonald seems to be a big fan of Ronaldo.

Back in 2014, the veteran won the prestigious Ballon d'Or award after sparkling for Real Madrid.

And Macdonald took to X to praise the forward, saying: "Would have been a travesty if Ronaldo hadn't won! Well done big man!"

Macdonald is believed to be a supporter of Scottish Premiership side Rangers.

Gordon Ramsey and Chris Evans are also fans of the club.

Regarding Ronaldo, meanwhile, the football icon is still going strong as he approaches the twilight years of his glittering career.

Many wrote the forward off when he left Manchester United by mutual consent last year.

But Ronaldo has dazzled ever since moving to Saudi Arabia, netting 32 goals from 37 appearances for the club.

Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto recently set the 38-year-old the target of scoring 1,000 career goals.

Ronaldo has 860 goals from 1,189 appearances for club and country so far.

And he recently admitted he was hopeful he could meet Pinto's target and continue to etch his name into the history of the sport.

"He [Pinto] set me the challenge of reaching 1,000 goals," said the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Sporting Lisbon star.

"It will be quite difficult, but it is to see how I am mentally, my motivation.

"If, physically, my legs treat me as well as I treat them.

"Let's see. Until I reach 1000 I have to reach 900 first.

"I believe I will reach it. Now I always think about short-term goals.

"The target for 900 goals? I'm confident, but for 1,000 goals it's a lot of stone to break."

On potentially playing for Portugal at the European Championships next summer, he added: "I hope to be well by then, but there's still a lot of time left, I hope I don't have any injuries or other problems.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong as football icon enters the twilight years of his career

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"I hope to play and be in the finals again, but until then there's a lot left, a lot of things at club and national team."

Al-Nassr are next in action against Al-Duhail on Tuesday night (7pm).

Ronaldo's side currently sit third in the Saudi Pro League, behind Al-Hilal and Al-Taawoun.

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