After another disappointing season in the Saudi Pro League—despite Cristiano Ronaldo leading the league in goals—Al-Nassr only managed a third-place finish. Following the end of the campaign, the 40-year-old dropped a cryptic message hinting at his next move: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.”
With his contract set to expire at the end of June, Ronaldo is poised to become a free agent. One of the most talked-about landing spots is Major League Soccer (MLS), where global stars like Lionel Messi, Marco Reus, and Olivier Giroud are already making waves.
This move would be massive for both Ronaldo and the league—giving the Portuguese icon a chance to grow his brand in North America, much like Messi has done, and offering MLS another global superstar to boost its profile.
However, there are significant hurdles. Chief among them is Ronaldo’s salary: currently earning around $200 million per year, he’s the highest-paid athlete in the world. By contrast, Messi tops MLS’s salary chart with a reported $20.4 million annually. When you factor in his off-field income—including revenue shares from Apple TV and other deals—Messi’s total climbs to $50–60 million per year, according to ESPN.
To even approach Ronaldo’s salary expectations, an MLS club would need an open Designated Player (DP) slot, which allows up to three players to exceed the league’s salary cap without penalty. Currently, 18 teams—possibly 19 depending on Inter Miami’s DP status—could theoretically make a move.
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Here are some of the most realistic destinations:
Inter Miami
The dream scenario for fans: Messi and Ronaldo together on the same team. If David Beckham pulls it off, it would be an unprecedented moment in soccer history. The move would be a marketing sensation and give Ronaldo a shot at playing in the FIFA Club World Cup this June—if Al-Nassr agrees to release him early.
Whether Miami currently has a free DP slot is unclear. Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba started the season as DPs. However, following Alba’s recent contract renewal, MLS’s website now lists him as an International Player, possibly freeing up a DP spot.
New York City FC
A return to big names could be in the cards for NYCFC. Past legends like David Villa, Andrea Pirlo, and Frank Lampard made headlines here, and Ronaldo could instantly become the face of the franchise. The club is playoff-relevant and has ownership ties to Manchester City, a team Ronaldo almost joined in 2021.
Minnesota United
Though not a traditional big-market team and with little history of signing global stars, Minnesota could surprise. There’s at least one reported connection between the club and Ronaldo, making it a dark horse option.
San Diego FC
MLS’s newest franchise is off to a strong start with an 8-3-4 record. With Hirving Lozano and Anders Dreyer occupying two of their DP spots, they reportedly had interest in Kevin De Bruyne, though that has cooled. Could Ronaldo be their marquee signing instead?
