TThere is no doubt that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have both made their mark in the world of football before and since, but each has done so in their own unique way.
However, with the Argentine in MLS and the Portuguese in Saudi Arabia, the former Inter Miami player believes CR7 would have been more successful if they had followed Leo’s path.
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CR7 in MLS?
After ending his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, Messi decided to embark on a new adventure and signed with David Beckham’s Inter Miami. He was presented by the club in July 2023.
There he won the League’s Cup in 2023, the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2024, and this year won the MLS Cup Eastern Conference title and the MLS Cup. As an individual, he won the Golden Boot Award and consecutive MVP awards, and will remain with the club until 2028.
However, in December 2022, a few months before signing with Leo, Ronaldo released his contract with Manchester United and signed with Al Nasr in a deal that made him the world’s highest-paid player with an estimated annual salary of more than 200 million yen.
His arrival in the Saudi league was a big change and excited the fans who could continue to enjoy watching him play until 2027 when CR7 renewed his contract with the club.
Despite the euphoria caused by its arrival in Saudi Arabia, former Inter Miami and USMNT star Breck Shea thinks CR7 may have caused something more in the US:
“I think Cristiano Ronaldo would have had a bigger impact on MLS than Lionel Messi,” he began at Jackpot City Casino, explaining, “I don’t want to disrespect Messi, but Messi seems like a family man. He’s very quiet and he doesn’t speak well yet. So I think Ronaldo seems more outgoing and does more in the public eye.”
“So, just for that reason, I think he would have automatically had a bigger impact if he had spoken the words and given the interviews. I’m talking strictly about things off the field. I don’t know if he could have had the same numbers, but would he have had a bigger impact? Yes, he would have had it,” he said.
Meanwhile, given that his contract with Al Nasr has been extended until 2027, there is investment in the team, and the captain is 42 years old, it is unlikely that he will move to MLS and test Shea’s words.
Meanwhile, both soccer legends are preparing for the 2026 World Cup, with Hsieh calling it “absolutely amazing” to see them continue to play at such a high level for so long.
Leo has not yet announced his participation in the tournament, but he already has a rival in the Argentine national team. They are in Group J along with Austria, Algeria and Jordan. Meanwhile, in Group K, Portugal will face Colombia, Uzbekistan and the winner of the intercontinental play-off between Jamaica, Congo and New Caledonia.
