15 August 2023 , 08:00
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Lionel Messi has dominated the MLS since his arrival - which has somewhat proved a point made by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 36-year-old signed for Inter Miami on a free transfer after his contract at French champions PSG came to an end. It is the biggest transfer in the league’s history since David Beckham made the switch to LA Galaxy from Real Madrid in 2007.
In just five games, the World Cup winner has already scored eight goals for his new club and led them into the semi-finals of the Leagues Cup. The Argentine’s move to the US has proved to be a match made in heaven so far, but his lightning start across the pond perhaps proves Ronaldo’s point about the Saudi Pro League being a more competitive league than the MLS.
Last month, the Portuguese international said: “The Saudi league is better than MLS, now all the players are coming here. In one year, more top players will come to Saudi Arabia. I opened the way to the Saudi league, and now all the players are coming here.”
The ease at which Messi has dominated MLS has done little to dispel Ronaldo's claims. The Argentinian icon has had things all his own way so far in the Leagues Cup against other MLS teams, leading to accusations he has exposed the standards on offer in America compared to other top leagues around the world.
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Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, two of Messi’s teammates at Barcelona, have joined him at Inter Miami, and other big names such as Theirry Henry, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney have joined the MLS in the past. But these comments from the five-time Ballon d'Or winner have been proved correct as several of Europe’s top footballers have made the switch to the Middle East this year.
The likes of Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema, Premier League legends Roberto Firmino and N’Golo Kante, and Ronaldo’s current Al Nassr teammate Sadio Mane have all left European football behind for life in Saudi Arabia. The latest big name to join the league is Neymar, who will complete the move from Al-Hilal from French champions PSG in an £86 million deal.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 20 goals in 25 games since joining Al Nassr (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)Subject to a successful medical the Brazilian will sign a two-year deal with the Riyadh-based side. Ronaldo meanwhile, has scored 20 goals in 25 games since joining Al Nassr on New Year’s Day. He last played for the club on Saturday in the Arab Club Champions Cup final and scored two goals to propel his side to a 2-1 victory, despite being down to nine men.
He did not play in his club's opening game of the new Saudi Pro League season today, in which they were defeated 2-1 by Al-Ettifaq. Messi on the other hand, has inspired Inter Miami to five straight victories, after they had not won any of their previous 11.
The football magician has yet to make his league debut, but he faces a huge challenge when he does. The club are rooted to the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference with just 18 points with only five victories, and it will take more Messi magic to lift them off the bottom of the table.