Cristiano Ronaldo chose the pettiest time to endorse the Saudi League over MLS after Lionel Messi’s move

In the primes of their career, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had one of the greatest rivalries in soccer history as members of Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively. To this day, both are primary subjects of a Men’s GOAT soccer debate, one that, by now, Messi has won handily with seven Ballon d’Or trophies to Ronaldo’s five and one World Cup trophy to Ronaldo’s zero.

But that hasn’t stopped Ronaldo from taking apparent potshots at Messi here and there, showing he’s probably a little bitter that Messi will have left behind a better legacy when all is said and done.

The latest example comes from Ronaldo’s strange comparative endorsement of the Saudi Pro League during a press conference. After a high-profile transfer from Manchester United, the superstar joined the league in January 2023. And at literally any time since January, Ronaldo could’ve endorsed the overall quality of his new league. At any time, he could’ve professed how much it apparently pushes him as an athlete.

Instead, he chose to talk up the Saudi League while bashing the MLS just days after Messi officially joined Inter Miami and began practicing with them. Hmm, curious timing!

Cristiano Ronaldo: "Saudi league is better than MLS".

"I'm 100% sure I won't return to any European club. I opened the way to Saudi league… and now all the players are coming here". pic.twitter.com/nvgESZnjeK

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 17, 2023

Ronaldo can endorse his own decision to take $220 million to play wherever he wants. That is his prerogative.

But it is impossible to see his juxtaposition as anything but a passive-aggressive shot at Messi joining the MLS, given the timing. Even after definitively losing the all-time battle, the man clearly hasn’t quite let go of his rivalry with the fellow all-time Argentinian great.