Cristiano Ronaldo is making headlines again, and this time it's not for scoring goals. The 41-year-old superstar is reportedly at war with his Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr over their lack of transfer ambition.
Ronaldo has apparently gone on strike. He's frustrated that Al Nassr isn't spending like other Saudi clubs owned by the country's Public Investment Fund. The final straw? Watching his old Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema move from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal while his own club stayed quiet in the transfer market.
The Saudi Pro League has already issued a warning to Ronaldo. Exit rumors are swirling as the season winds down. Could MLS be his next destination?
The Salary Problem That Changes Everything
Here's the thing: Ronaldo's wages make an MLS move virtually impossible. The Portuguese legend earns an absolutely mind-blowing $4.73 million per week at Al Nassr. That's not a typo.
Let's break down those numbers. Ronaldo's base salary totals around $246 million per year. Add in bonuses worth another $50 million annually, and you're looking at close to $300 million in total compensation.
Compare that to Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. After his contract extension in October 2025, Messi earns $20.4 million guaranteed per year. That's less than what Ronaldo makes in bonuses alone. It's not even half of just his bonus money.
Messi is already the highest-paid player in MLS by a wide margin. LAFC's Son Heung-min comes in second at $11.1 million annually. Atlanta United's Miguel Almirón ranks third at just $7.9 million per year.
For any MLS club considering Ronaldo, the math simply doesn't work. He'd need to accept a pay cut of over 90% to earn what Messi makes. That's a massive financial sacrifice, even for someone who's earned billions throughout his career.
Europe Isn't an Option Either
What about a romantic return to Europe? Unfortunately, the salary situation doesn't improve much across the Atlantic.
Erling Haaland is currently the highest-paid player in European football. The Manchester City striker earns around $718,000 per week. That sounds enormous until you realize it's less than one-sixth of Ronaldo's weekly wage.
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé is right behind Haaland at $710,000 per week. Even the biggest clubs in the world's most lucrative leagues can't match what Ronaldo currently makes in Saudi Arabia.
For bettors tracking Ronaldo's future, the smart money says he'll either stay at Al Nassr or take a dramatic pay cut to move elsewhere. Any odds on him joining MLS should factor in these financial realities. Unless he's willing to play for a fraction of his current salary, that rivalry renewal with Messi isn't happening anytime soon.
The situation highlights just how different the Saudi football project is from traditional leagues. They're operating on a completely different financial level, one that even MLS with all its growth can't compete with.
