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August 11, 2025
As one of the beautiful game’s biggest stars, Cristiano Ronaldo is known worldwide. After recently signing a new two-year deal to stay with Al-Nassr beyond his 42nd birthday, many American soccer fans were left feeling disappointed after believing a move to Major League Soccer was on the cards for Ronaldo.
According to various reports, Ronaldo had options on the table from America before committing his future to the Saudi Pro League’s project. After looking at today's college football odds, fans who watch the NFL and bet on the college game will be fully aware of Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson’s attempt. The former NFL wide receiver took to social media to tempt Ronaldo into making an MLS move. In the end, Johnson failed. While the stupendous amounts of money being offered to him by the Saudi giants would’ve been hard to turn down, there is an argument to suggest that Ronaldo could make even more of an impact in Major League Soccer. Should it become an option in the coming years, below are some key reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo should join an MLS team.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Fashion sense
Although the debate over which league is better will rumble on, Major League Soccer contains some top sides. These established teams play in world-class arenas and have thousands of dedicated fans, with exciting games regularly filled with goals. While the allure of Saudi football is entirely understandable, it arguably isn’t as competitive as the MLS. A new team emerges almost every season, making for an unpredictable sporting offering. A nation with globally watched sporting offerings, there is therefore a strong argument to suggest that the MLS has far more potential than the Saudi Pro League.
Of course, money talks in football these days, even for a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, who has recorded huge earnings over the years. Players are constantly chasing the biggest deals, and while MLS clubs might be unable to match his reported £492 million earnings over two years at Al-Nassr, they could’ve come close. For Ronaldo, given the fact that he’s already one of the wealthiest athletes ever, perhaps money shouldn’t have been one of his main priorities.
Saudi Arabia is a developing country with massive potential, but it isn’t for everyone. Numerous players struggle to adapt to the way of life there, with some even living in neighboring nations. For Ronaldo, should he fancy a change in the next year or two and be drawn in by an enticing MLS project, he’ll also be presented with a chance to live in one of the best cities in the world, be it New York or Los Angeles.
One of the numerous issues associated with the Saudi Pro League is that many football fans worldwide aren’t exposed to it. However, the MLS is watched everywhere, with players like Wayne Rooney and David Beckham receiving plenty of media attention during their spells in the competition. As such, for a player like Ronaldo who wants to market himself to new audiences, America could be the perfect place for it as he attempts to increase the brand Ronaldo.
There aren’t hundreds of young Saudi players emerging. The infrastructure isn’t there, and few youngsters are striving to become professional footballers. However, players like Diego Luna and Benjamin Cremaschi are always coming through in America, meaning Ronaldo has a genuine opportunity to inspire the next generation. The same can't be said of Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on August 19, against Al Ittihad, for the Saudi Super Cup. You can watch Al Nassr vs Al Ittihad, WSG Tirol vs Real Madrid, Mallorca vs Barça, Manchester United vs Arsenal, PSG vs Tottenham and Wolves vs Man City, all matches provided from our live soccer game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Al Nassr vs Al Ittihad kick-off time (19-08-2025):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+7: 20:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+4.30: 17:30
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+2: 15:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 14:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 13:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 10:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 09:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 06:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / givemesport.com / dcunited.com
