Why MLS clubs can't sign Cristiano Ronaldo despite transfer links

February 07, 2026 • 0 • min read

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Why MLS clubs can't sign Cristiano Ronaldo despite transfer links

Despite being 41 years old and operating on the fringes of elite European football, Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the most powerful headline generators in world sport.

The Portugal international has dominated the news cycle once again after reports emerged of a growing rift with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo is said to be deeply frustrated by what he perceives as a lack of ambition in the club's transfer strategy - particularly when compared to other Saudi teams backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

His dissatisfaction reportedly intensified following the high-profile move of former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal, a transfer that appeared to tip the competitive balance of the league.

Saudi Pro League officials have since issued a warning to Ronaldo, only fuelling speculation that he could seek an exit at the end of the season.

Among the destinations being floated, Major League Soccer has emerged as an intriguing - if highly unrealistic - option.

Why MLS appeals to Ronaldo

A move to MLS would offer Ronaldo global visibility, commercial appeal and the chance to rekindle his career-long rivalry with Lionel Messi, who currently stars for Inter Miami.

From a branding and marketing perspective, MLS would welcome Ronaldo with open arms.

On the pitch, however, and more importantly off it, the numbers simply do not add up.

The salary barrier MLS cannot overcome

Ronaldo's current earnings at Al-Nassr are unprecedented in modern football.

The veteran striker reportedly earns around $4.73 million per week, equating to approximately $246 million per year, excluding bonuses believed to total an additional $50 million annually.

No league outside Saudi Arabia can realistically sustain those figures.

For comparison, Messi - comfortably the highest-paid player in MLS - earns a guaranteed $20.4 million per year following his contract extension in October 2025.

That figure is less than half of Ronaldo's reported annual bonus package alone.

Beyond Messi, the wage structure drops sharply.

Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-min earns around $11.1 million annually, whilst Atlanta United's Miguel Almirón takes home roughly $7.9 million, according to MLS Players Association data.

Simply put, Ronaldo would need to accept a monumental pay cut - on a scale unprecedented even by superstar standards - to make an MLS move viable.

Would Europe be any different?

A return to Europe offers no financial solution either.

Even the continent's highest earners fall dramatically short of Ronaldo's Saudi wages.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland reportedly earns around $718,000 per week, whilst Madrid star Kylian Mbappé is close behind on roughly $710,000 weekly.

Those figures pale in comparison to Ronaldo's earnings, meaning even Europe's wealthiest clubs would struggle to accommodate him without tearing up their wage structures.

Saudi frustration and a brewing standoff

Ronaldo's anger reportedly stems from perceived preferential treatment of rival PIF-backed clubs such as Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli.

Sources suggest the striker even attempted to block Benzema's transfer to Al-Hilal, believing it would unfairly skew the 2025/26 title race.

His refusal to feature in Al-Nassr's derby clash with Al-Riyadh only deepened the controversy, and further boycotts remain a possibility.

Should PIF's operational approach remain unchanged, Ronaldo is expected to formally request a departure from Al Awwal Park Stadium at the end of the campaign.

That stance comes despite Al-Nassr spending heavily in the summer, signing the likes of João Félix, Kingsley Coman and Iñigo Martínez for a combined outlay of over $100 million.

What happens next?

For all the talk of betrayal, ambition and legacy, the reality is brutally simple: Cristiano Ronaldo has priced himself out of every major league outside Saudi Arabia.

Unless he is willing to sacrifice the vast majority of his salary, MLS - and indeed Europe - will remain nothing more than a talking point rather than a genuine destination.