Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would be “very complementary” in the same team, Rene Meulensteen has told GOAL, with CR7 being backed for a move to MLS Cup winners Inter Miami if he lands the Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would be “very complementary” in the same team, Rene Meulensteen has told GOAL, with CR7 being backed for a move to MLS Cup winners Inter Miami if he lands the Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr.
The Portuguese GOAT is closing in on another crown in the Middle East, which could lead to him exploring future options elsewhere. At 41 years of age, five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo does not have many moves left in him. He is tied to a contract in Riyadh - the most lucrative in world football - through to the summer of 2027. Said terms could, however, be broken if all parties come to an agreement.
They are also into the AFC Champions League Two final, where they will face Gamba Osaka on Saturday, meaning that Ronaldo could end the season with multiple major honours to his name. If that were to be the case, could the evergreen frontman be tempted to take on a new challenge and where could that be?
When those questions were put to Meulensteen, a man who“If you look at him and obviously at this stage of his career, I think there are certain possibilities that have sailed - whether he would get tempted back into a club in Europe that plays in the Champions League, because that is what he would want.
“I possibly could see him going to the United States, do that for a year in MLS. We have all wondered what it would be like to play together with Messi. That would be something. Maybe he could be tempted to try that, rather than fighting against each other, put them in one team.
”, Meulensteen added: “They both are on a level par with what they've achieved - the games they've played, the goals they scored, but it's comparing apples and pears.
“I find it a senseless discussion, who's better, Cristiano or Messi? No, it's more of a case of what are you more drawn to? Messi is this smaller player, low gravity, leading the ball with his feet, jumping and changing, running, taking players on and Cristiano is this bulk of energy, strong, tall, dynamic, fast, powerful.
“They're both equally important. I think they're actually very complementary to each other and I think they would enjoy playing together. ”in Portugal? Meulensteen said of that scenario: “Could happen, but I don't know how strong his ties still are with Sporting.
Obviously he's had a good number of years at Manchester United. He's obviously already been back there.
“He's been at Real Madrid for a good number of years, possibly the biggest success of his career, but yeah, Sporting is where his professional career started so that could be another good option. ”Ronaldo has offered no indication that he is planning an imminent change of scenery, with opportunities seemingly about to present themselves in Saudi Arabia that will allow CR7 to, as the Argentine World Cup winner is working on a deal at Inter Miami through 2028 - meaning that a move to South Florida could be made as a free agent in 12 months’ time.
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