Cristiano Ronaldo left red-faced after MLS dig as old comments come to light

Cristiano Ronaldo’s claims that the Saudi Pro League is “much better” than Major League Soccer may seem bold, but the forward may be feeling a little embarrassed considering his previous comments on the idea of playing in the United States. While still starring for Real Madrid, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner spoke about one day moving to MLS.

Ronaldo, 38, instead joined Juventus after leaving Spain in 2018. Then, after spending three seasons in Italy, he returned to the English Premier League and Manchester United before abruptly leaving last year after falling out with manager Erik ten Hag.

A lucrative free transfer to Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr followed at the start of this year. Ronaldo has recently spoken about not seeking a return to Europe before retiring.

That would seemingly increase the possibility of once again rivaling Lionel Mess in the U.S. over the coming years. However, that prospect was something the player shot down on Monday.

“I think the Saudi league is much better than the United States,” Ronaldo told reporters in Portugal after Al-Nassr’s 5-0 pre-season loss to Spanish club Celta Vigo. That came in response to being asked whether he would ever consider moving to MLS.

However, that was not always the case. In 2016, two years before leaving Real Madrid, Ronaldo was high on how MLS was developing.

“I know that many players move there,” he said after seeing former teammates David Beckham and Kaka join LA Galaxy and Orlando City over previous seasons. “I think it’s becoming better and better. It’s growing.

“I think it’s good. It’s good for me and young players that maybe one day we want to move there. So it’s good that football—’soccer’—grows there.

“I mean, what’s happening there is great; it’s fantastic—maybe in the future will be a good chance for me to play there. You never know, but it’s something interesting. I consider it, of course, because as I’ve said, soccer there has become better and better, so why not? I think that this is maybe going to be possible.”

‌Those comments contrasted with claims made just a year earlier about wanting to retire while still playing at the highest level. “In my mind, I want to finish in the top level, I want to finish with dignity, so in a good club,” Ronaldo said in 2015. “It doesn’t mean that to go USA or Qatar or Dubai is not good. But I don’t see myself [going there].”