MLS emerges as the perfect stage for Cristiano Ronaldo’s next move | OneFootball

The Saudi Pro League returns to its second half of the 2024/25 season, where Al-Nassr-the club of Cristiano Ronaldo-are a whole 11 points behind the league leaders Al-Ittihad. With his lucrative two-and-a-half-year contract in June, speculation arises: is Major League Soccer next up for CR7?

A new chapter for Cristiano Ronaldo?

But nearing 40 next month, Ronaldo remains a goal-scoring machine. For Al-Nassr, he has scored 80 goals in 89 games, with performances very much still at the top. Even with those impressive stats, his next move is under scrutiny because of how his contract's expiration date is looming.

Of those, however, MLS appears the most intriguing path he could tread. The fact that former Manchester United teammate Wes Brown reckons the North American league is where his next destination should be pretty much sums it up. "Cristiano Ronaldo has to go to America, especially with Messi already there", Brown explained in an interview with The Sports Daily.

Brown doesn't say such things lightly. Messi's inking with Inter Miami cemented MLS as a truly global league. Reuniting those two icons stateside would mean on-field drama, for sure, but also a PR windfall.

MLS as strategic destination

Cristiano Ronaldo's name goes beyond soccer, and that makes his potential move to MLS a strategic win for both player and league. For Ronaldo, it means an opportunity to dive head-first into a market that idolizes star power and affords him a greater platform to expand his global brand. For MLS, landing Ronaldo would seal the deal on the league's status as the go-to league for the sport's biggest names.

Ronaldo's track record in Europe's elite leagues and now in the Middle East proves that he is still competing at a high level. In MLS, he would find an environment that enables him to extend his career while continuing to pile up goals and records.

The race to 1,000 goals: a driving force

Ronaldo presently has 916 professional goals, which is an astronomical number, but that 1,000 goal-post is still calling. This could be the key factor that might keep him running, even when age perhaps will begin to tell on him.

Soccer seasons are short in MLS, compared to those in Europe. Ronaldo will now have ample time to work on those finishing instincts. As Brown mentioned, "He's always finding the back of the net and looks remarkably fit for his age".

The pursuit of 1,000 goals would have made worldwide headlines, thus being the storyline to tell for MLS and every avid fan who hangs onto Ronaldo's words.

A rivalry renewed with Messi

Few storylines could rival the sheer excitement of Cristiano Ronaldo joining MLS — except perhaps for a renewed showdown with Lionel Messi. Since Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami, the league has experienced an unprecedented surge in popularity. Imagine the impact of regular matchups between the two greatest players of their generation.

The U.S. does a good job of morphing sports rivalries into major sports entertainment. MLS would be no different with Messi vs. Ronaldo. Their head-to-heads would become a must-watch around the world as fans tune in and lift the league's profile to unprecedented levels.