What's been going on in the Saudi Pro League: Ronaldo's achievements, Gerrard's challenges, and dwindling attendance.

Steven Gerrard's roller-coaster debut season in the Saudi Pro League concluded on Monday with mixed outcomes.

Despite a promising start, his Ettifaq side faced a concerning streak of just one victory in 12 matches, raising doubts about the former Liverpool legend's tenure. However, they managed to rally and secure a respectable sixth-place finish in the league standings.

Challenging the dominance of the established 'Big Four' teams was always going to be a daunting task. Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr of Riyadh, along with Jeddah giants Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, underwent a significant transformation when they were acquired by the same Public Investment Fund that also owns Newcastle United.

This led to a massive spending spree, reportedly totaling around £750 million, which sent shockwaves through the football world as renowned names flocked to the Kingdom, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr .

But what unfolded in one of the most talked-about leagues in the world?

Al-Hilal clinched their 19th league title, extending their own record, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo without a Saudi Pro League title for the second consecutive season. However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner achieved personal milestones, securing the Golden Boot and setting a new scoring record for the league.

His remarkable tally of 35 goals in just 31 games surpassed Abderrazak Hamdallah's record. Ronaldo's season was highlighted by four hat-tricks and 12 assists. Despite his stellar performance, he faced two suspensions, one for a red card in April and another in February for an incident involving Al-Shabab fans.