There is no doubt that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have marked a before and after in soccer, but each has done so in his own way.
However, with the Argentine in MLS and the Portuguese in Saudi Arabia, a former Inter Miami player believes that CR7 could have been more successful if he had followed Leo’s path.
CR7 in MLS?
After ending his contract with Paris Saint Germain, Messi decided to embark on a new adventure and signed for David Beckham’s Inter Miami. He was presented by the club in July 2023.
There, he won the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield, and this year he won the MLS Cup Eastern Conference title and the MLS Cup. Individually, he was awarded the Golden Boot and consecutive MVP awards and will remain with the club until 2028.
However, a few months before Leo’s signing, in December 2022, Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr after terminating his contract with Manchester United and signing a contract estimated at more than 200 million per year, making him the highest-paid player in the world.
His arrival in the Saudi league was a big change and thrilled fans, who will be able to continue enjoying his play until 2027, as CR7 renewed with the club.
Despite the euphoria caused by his arrival in Saudi Arabia, former Inter Miami and USMNT star Brek Shea thinks CR7 could have caused that and much more in the United States:
“I think Cristiano Ronaldo would have had a bigger impact on MLS than Lionel Messi,” he began, speaking to Jackpot City Casino, explaining: “No disrespect to Messi, but Messi seems like a homebody. He’s very quiet. He still doesn’t speak the language well. So I just think Ronaldo seems more outgoing, he does more things in the public eye.”
“So I think just for that reason, speaking the language, giving interviews, I think he would have automatically had a bigger impact. I’m talking strictly about things off the field. I don’t know if he would have achieved the same numbers, but a bigger impact? Yes, he would have had that,” he said.
Meanwhile, due to the extension of his contract with Al Nassr until 2027, his investment in the team, and considering that the captain will be 42 years old, it is unlikely that he will travel to MLS and put Shea’s words to the test.
Meanwhile, both soccer legends are preparing to compete in the 2026 World Cup, something Shea described as “really amazing” to see them continue to play at such a high level after so long.
Although Leo has not yet confirmed his participation in the tournament, the Argentina national team already has its rivals: it is in Group J, alongside Austria, Algeria, and Jordan. Meanwhile, in Group K, Portugal will face Colombia, Uzbekistan, and the winner of the Intercontinental Playoff between Jamaica, Congo, and New Caledonia.
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