With the 2026 World Cup to be held in North America this summer, the media conducted an anonymous survey questionnaire among 22 team executives in Major League Soccer (MLS), with one question being whether they were interested in signing Cristiano Ronaldo.
Among the 22 MLS team executives, 13 were interested in signing Ronaldo, 8 chose not to, and one declined to comment.
Several of the 22 sports executives interviewed gave a definite "yes". The 41-year-old Ronaldo is now a long-term ambassador for the Saudi Pro League, and the possibility of him moving to MLS to play the final chapter of his career seems slim. Then again, Messi joining MLS was once considered unthinkable.
As long as Messi and Ronaldo are still playing, people can't help imagining them facing each other again. If both played in MLS, the annual "Messi-Ronaldo rivalry" would surely become a global focus.
"Of course I would sign Ronaldo," one sporting director said. “He could completely transform the entire MLS. Age is not a problem for him. I think he can play for at least two more years. He is an incredibly powerful brand on his own. What's more, Ronaldo and Messi competed so fiercely against each other, and now to be in the same league... I would definitely sign him.”
Executives spoke of Ronaldo's amazing global market influence, leadership qualities, and legendary resume as one of the greatest goalscorers in football history. "I would certainly seriously consider it," another chief business officer said. “Inter Miami has proven that the money can be earned back. And as long as he is in the penalty area, he always scores.”
"It would be absolutely fantastic to have him in the squad," another sporting director said. “He is a completely different type of player to Messi. I don't think our club could realistically sign him, but if I could, I would. I really want him. It would just require a huge investment, and I'm not sure we could go that far.”
This investment would likely exceed the funds promised by Inter Miami, Apple and multiple third-party investors to sign Messi back then. But a successful example is already there.
"With all due respect," another sporting director added, “I know our club's position and stadium conditions, but if he contacted me proactively, I would certainly consider it. I would never say no. Signing players like Messi, Ronaldo, Son Heung-min or Thomas Müller is not a big risk at all – because you can sell more tickets, at higher prices, and attract more sponsorships. Even if he gets injured and doesn't play much, everyone still wants to come and watch him play.”
The opposing voices were also direct. "We wouldn't. If another team in the league can do it, that helps the league," one chief business officer said. “But would I want it to be our team? No.”
Another executive admitted: “Even if he joined on a free transfer, his salary demands would be unrealistically high. I really don't know if we could afford a player like that, even on a free.”
However, one sporting director who imagined Ronaldo wearing his team's jersey scoring his 1000th career goal gave a very blunt conclusion: “I would have to be crazy to say I don't want to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.”
