Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to join Major League Soccer (MLS) because his salary at Al Nassr is simply too high, he earns around $4.7 million per week, which adds up to nearly $250 million per year, plus bonuses. No MLS club can afford that without Ronaldo taking a massive pay cut.
1. His Current Salary
- Weekly wage at Al Nassr: $4.73 million
- Annual wage: ~$246 million
- Bonuses: ~$50 million per year
- By comparison, Lionel Messi earns $20.4 million per year at Inter Miami, less than half of Ronaldo’s bonuses alone.
2. MLS Salary Structure
- MLS has a salary cap system designed to keep spending under control.
- Even the highest-paid players in MLS earn far less:
- Messi (Inter Miami): $20.4m/year
- Son Heung-min (LAFC): $11.1m/year
- Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United): $7.9m/year
- Ronaldo’s current pay dwarfs these figures, making it impossible under MLS rules unless he accepts a huge reduction.
3. Comparison With Europe
- Even Europe’s richest clubs can’t match Ronaldo’s wages.
- Erling Haaland (Man City): ~$718,000 per week
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): ~$710,000 per week
- Both earn less than one-sixth of Ronaldo’s weekly salary.
Additional Insight: Why This Matters
- Ronaldo is currently on strike at Al Nassr, frustrated by what he sees as a lack of ambition compared to other Saudi clubs like Al Hilal and Al Ittihad.
- His situation has fueled speculation about a move, but realistically:
- Saudi Arabia remains the only place that can afford him.
- A move to MLS would require him to slash his wages by over 90%.
- A return to Europe is also unlikely unless he accepts a symbolic contract at a club like Sporting CP (his boyhood team).
Quick Comparison Table
| Player | Club | Weekly Wage | Annual Wage | Notes |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Al Nassr (Saudi) | $4.73m | $246m + $50m bonuses | Highest-paid in world |
| Lionel Messi | Inter Miami (MLS) | $411k | $20.4m | MLS record salary |
| Son Heung-min | LAFC (MLS) | $213k | $11.1m | 2nd highest in MLS |
| Erling Haaland | Man City (Europe) | $718k | ~$37m | Europe’s top earner |
| Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid (Europe) | $710k | ~$37m | Close to Haaland |
Final Take
- MLS clubs can’t sign Ronaldo unless he accepts a massive pay cut.
- His wages are far beyond what MLS or even Europe can handle.
- The most realistic options are:
- Staying in Saudi Arabia (possibly moving to another PIF-backed club).
- Returning to Portugal with Sporting CP for sentimental reasons.
- A shock move back to Real Madrid, though highly unlikely.