In the last couple of months, there has been an influx of international football stars making the move to the Middle East to join the lucrative Saudi Pro League. From Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to Neymar and Riyadh Mahrez, some of the biggest names to play the sport have been lured in by the Kingdom, joining the top Saudi Pro League teams, Al Hilal, Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, and Al Nassr.
Of course, with every pro footballer comes an equally enchanting WAG (wives and girlfriends)—Interestingly, the term WAGs originates from our region as it was the name given to players’ wives and girlfriends by staff at the Jumeirah Beach Club in Dubai as they spent time together ahead of the FIFA tournament back in 2002. Almost as famous as their boos, a WAGs’ main job is to support their partners throughout their journeys, even if that takes them across the other side of the world.
Below, meet the wives and girlfriends of the Saudi Pro League footballers.
Georgina Rodriguez
Georgina Rodriguez is the girlfriend of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who made the move to Al Nassr in January, six weeks after his contract with Manchester United was terminated. The couple met in 2016 at a Gucci store in Milan, where Rodriguez was working at the time, and have been together since then. In November 2017, the 29-year-old gave birth to their daughter, Alana Martina, and in 2022, she gave birth to twins in April, with the boy tragically dying during childbirth. The girl twin, Bella Esmeralda, survived. She also takes care of Ronaldo’s three other children, including twins, Eva and Mateo, born to a surrogate mother, and his first child, Cristiano Jr. born in America.
Jordan Ozuna
The American model and the Al Ittihad player made their relationship status public after she showed up at the Ballon d’Or gala in May 2022 to support her partner. However, they have been together since at least last year. They made their relationship Instagram official last August, after she shared a picture of them hugging. In April 2023, Ozuna and Benzema welcomed a son together. While the French-Algerian athlete has three children from previous relationships, including daughters Melia and Nouri, and son Ibrahim, Ozuna became a parent for the first time.
Larissa Firmino
Larissa Firmino has been married to iconic Brazilian footballer Roberto Firmino since 2017. She made the move to Saudi Arabia in July, after her husband signed with Saudi’s Al Ahli, which he captains. The couple have two daughters together named Valentina and Bella.
Debora Lourenco
Football star Ruben Neves proposed to his fiance Debora Lourenco in 2018 following four-years of dating. Though they have yet to tie the knot, the happy couple has three children together, two boys and a girl. The Portuguese athlete joined the Al Hilal football club this summer, citing his family as the main reason why he took the decision to move to Saudi Arabia. “The main factor was my family and the chance to give them the life I have always dreamt of for them – that was the biggest reason for me to not have any doubts. I have three kids and a lovely wife, and I need to take care of them, that is the biggest trophy in my career,” he said in his first official interview at Al Hilal.
Taylor Ward
The former Manchester City star who now plays as a right winger for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli tied the knot with British influencer and socialite Taylor Ward this September during an intimate ceremony that took place at The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London following a Muslim pre-wedding ceremony in January. The Algerian athlete and the entrepreneur, who is the daughter of retired footballer Ashley Ward, have a baby girl named Mila together. Mahrez was previously married for six years to his ex-wife and the mother of his two daughters, Rita Johal.
