Cristiano Ronaldo only joined Al Nassr FC of the Saudi Pro League in 2023. However, some experts are speculating if the 39-year-old superstar will move to the MLS (Major League Soccer) in the United States when Cristiano Ronaldo's contract ends in 2025.
If this does happen, it presents the possibility of Ronaldo joining Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. The club, partly owned by former soccer professional David Beckham, certainly has ambition. In addition to Messi, it has signed other top players, including Blaise Matuidi, Gonzalo Higuaín, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez.
However, if Ronaldo does leave the Arabian Peninsula, it seems more likely that he will join a different MLS team. Stakeholders would like to rekindle the rivalry he had with Messi in La Liga when Ronaldo played for Real Madrid CF and Messi played for Barcelona. It’s also worth noting that it’s far from certain he will move on from Al Nassr, given that the club will want to extend his contract.
Examining Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr and considering what may tempt him to move on helps us see how likely any MLS team is to land the prestigious Cristiano Ronaldo contract.
The Move to Al Nassr and What May Prompt Ronaldo to Move On
Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr following a period at Juventus, where he brought greater attention to the club and Serie A in general, and a short return spell at Manchester United F.C. in the Premier League that didn’t work out too well. At the time, he said he had done all he could in Europe and needed a new challenge.
Of course, the money was also a major draw for Ronaldo. Rumors suggest he earns around $213 million annually at Al Nassr. Some reports also suggest that there was a lack of interest from any bigger-name clubs in Europe or South America, although statements from Ronaldo at the time suggest he had plenty of offers.
It’s also worth mentioning that evidence later emerged of MLS interest in Ronaldo, specifically from Sporting Kansas City. The club attempted to sign the renowned goal scorer and playmaker and offered him incentives such as a stake in the club and a slice of earnings from international kit sales.
Ultimately, Ronaldo opted for the Al Nassr option. However, his time in the Saudi Pro League has not gone entirely to plan. While he is currently the top scorer in the league, his team trails league leaders Al-Hilal and has already been knocked out of the King’s Cup.
To make matters worse, Ronaldo has been subjected to Messi chants from opposing fans at several games, including the recent meeting with rivals Al-Hilal, which ended in a 1-1 draw after Al Nassr surrendered a 1-0 lead.
Despite the difficulties, Ronaldo has hinted that he is happy to stay in Saudi Arabia. In addition, Al Nassr wants to keep its star player and is happy to increase his already substantial earnings.
Financially, there is no chance that any MLS club can compete with the current Cristiano Ronaldo contract from Al Nassr. For example, Messi’s salary at Inter Miami is $12 million. This figure represents his base earnings, and he has a cap of $20 million.
So, from an earnings perspective, there is little to tempt Ronaldo to the US. However, moving to an MLS club could be good preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. This is a big consideration for Ronaldo, given that it could be his last opportunity to captain the Portugal national football team in a major competition.
The Benefits Ronaldo Would Bring to MLS Soccer
It’s clear that for Ronaldo, there are positives and negatives to signing for an MLS team. It’s important to note that MLS has as much to gain from him making the move, if not more, than Ronaldo himself.
MLS is already growing in popularity in the US. Average league attendance is a record 23,194, and across the 29 teams in the league, there is an average attendance capacity of 94%. However, soccer is still behind football, baseball, and basketball in the number of fans following the sports.
Attracting a player like Ronaldo is unlikely to close this gap entirely, but it could make it smaller. If Ronaldo joins an MLS side, ticket sales will increase, media interest will grow, and there will be more options for sponsorships and investment.
Ronaldo also has an excellent work ethic that inspires other players. This could only improve the quality of MLS play overall. Finally, the Ronaldo brand transcends soccer and would further entrench the sport in American culture.
Simply put, if an MLS club manages to land the Cristiano Ronaldo contract and reignite his rivalry with Messi, the popularity of MLS in the US will increase, and the league will benefit financially. So, the MLS wants Ronaldo to be part of the action, but will this ever happen?
How Likely is an MLS Move for Ronaldo?
Although Ronaldo's contract with Al Nassr expires eight months from now, American sportsbooks are already offering odds of +150 on the player signing with “any” MLS team, representing a 40% chance that CR7 sign with an MLS club in the future. There is no doubt that the MLS would love this to happen.
According to current odds, the MLS move is the most likely to happen if Ronaldo decides to move on when his current contract ends. The sportsbooks have a move back to the player’s former team, Sporting CP in Portugal, as the second most likely option, followed by a move back to the Premier League, with Newcastle touted as the most likely destination.
Given the success that Eddie Howe has already achieved with his Newcastle team, bringing Ronaldo's undoubted ego into the fold will probably not happen. Others suggested moves to Real Madrid or Manchester United, which also seem highly doubtful since his last stint didn’t turn out well.
It’s also worth mentioning that Ronaldo has previously spoken about retiring in two or three years and that he believes he will retire at Al Nassr. Given this statement, remaining in Saudi Arabia is the most plausible future for CR7. This is not surprising, given the high salary and lower taxes available to the player in his current location. He certainly seems settled at the moment.
However, there is no doubt that his team's success has not been as he would like. While Ronaldo has scored numerous goals and has a high number of assists, he would undoubtedly like to see greater returns for his efforts.
He will also be aware of how Messi has thrived in the US. Despite the lower salary, he has lucrative deals with Apple TV and Adidas and several valuable brand endorsements. So, Messi is well rewarded for his MLS performance, and he benefits from being based in a country that will be a central focus of the next FIFA World Cup.
The biggest uncertainty in Ronaldo’s future is how long he will continue playing. His fitness levels are high, but 39 is still an advancing age for a footballer, especially an attacking player. Despite previous comments, as he continues toward the end of his career, he may decide that reigniting his rivalry with Messi is the right step to take, especially as North America is hosting the World Cup in 2026. We will not know his decision until toward the end of his current contract, but plenty of factors may tempt him to sign an MLS contract.