Cristiano Ronaldo takes a dig at Lionel Messi & MLS; claims Saudi Pro League is 'looked down upon'

Ronaldo ranks the Saudi Pro League above MLS and Ligue 1.

Cristiano Ronaldo has made his feelings clear about Major League Soccer when he was asked where he ranks in the American league.

The Portuguese didn’t hesitate to call MLS the worst league which was an indirect jibe at his counterpart Lionel Messi, who plays for Inter Miami.

Eight-time winner of the Ballon d’Or award, Messi joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023; he set out to pursue the American dream. In addition to winning MVP honours, he won the MLS Supporters’ Shield and League Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo has fired shots at Lionel Messi by saying that Major League Soccer is obviously the worst league compared to the Saudi Pro League.

The Portuguese sensation Ronaldo packed his bags for the Middle East and signed an attractive deal at Al-Nassr a few months before Messi left for Florida. Ronaldo feels that he has taken on a more difficult professional task there, where he has maintained impressive individual standards and scored more goals than Messi has in MLS.

Ronaldo, who recently claimed that the Saudi league is stronger than Ligue 1, has told La Sexta:

“When I made the decision to come I didn’t think it was going to grow so fast, but I knew that in one or two years the league would be very top, as it is now. People don’t know, they think and talk too much.”

“I’m sorry because it’s a different reality when people talk about Saudi Arabia and when they talk about the United States. Is MLS a worse league? Obviously, but because it’s Saudi Arabia it’s looked down upon. But since I know that people don’t know what they’re talking about… Just because of the people who are here you have to give it value.”

Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to extend his contact with Al Nassr

After being let go by Premier League powerhouse Manchester United, Ronaldo, who will turn 40 on February 5, is content with his time in the Middle East and is still certain that he made the proper career decision.

It is expected that Ronaldo will agree to a contract extension at Al-Nassr that will keep him there until the end of the 2025–2026 season. He intends to attain 1,000 career goals before considering retirement, and he will then aim to play in the upcoming World Cup finals.

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