Recently, Camel Live conducted an anonymous survey of 22 executives from Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, with one core question: Would you sign Cristiano Ronaldo if given the opportunity?
The results showed that of the 22 executives surveyed, 13 explicitly stated they would sign Cristiano Ronaldo, 8 said they would not, and one chose to decline comment.
Among the 22 club executives, several gave unhesitating affirmative responses. Now 41 years old, Ronaldo has long served as a long-term brand ambassador for the Saudi Pro League, and the prospect of him moving to MLS for the final chapter of his career may seem highly remote. But just as Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami was once written off as impossible, nothing is off the table.
As long as Ronaldo and Messi remain active on the pitch, fans cannot help but dream of the pair facing off once again. If both were to play in MLS, the annual "Messi vs Ronaldo" showdown would undoubtedly become a global spectacle.
Sporting Director: Of course I would sign him. He could completely transform the entire landscape of MLS. Age is not an issue – I believe he can maintain a high level for at least another two years. He is an incredibly powerful brand in his own right. What’s more, he had such an intense rivalry with Messi, and if they were now in the same league… I would absolutely sign him.
Executives widely cited Ronaldo’s unparalleled global influence, leadership qualities, and his illustrious record as the top goalscorer in the history of football.
Chief Commercial Officer: I would definitely give it serious consideration. The Miami case has already proven that this kind of investment pays off. And as long as he’s in the box, he will always have the ability to score goals.
Another sporting director expressed the conflict between aspiration and reality.
Sporting Director: Having him would be an absolute dream. He is completely different from Messi. I think it’s highly unlikely our club could actually sign him in reality, but if we could, of course I would. I’d love to have him, but it would require an astronomical investment, and I’m not sure if we’d ever go that far.
Such an investment could even exceed the resources that Inter Miami, Apple Inc, and multiple third-party investors poured in to sign Messi. But the successful precedent is already there for all to see.
Sporting Director: With all due respect, I know our club’s standing and stadium situation, but if he reached out to me directly, I would absolutely consider it. I would never turn down an opportunity like this. Signing players like Messi, Ronaldo, or even Son Heung-min and Thomas Müller, is not a high-risk move at all – because you sell more tickets, more expensive tickets, and you attract more sponsorships. Even if he’s injured and only plays a limited number of games, everyone still wants to come and watch him play.
Of course, opposing voices were just as direct.
Chief Commercial Officer: We wouldn’t sign him. If another team in the league can pull it off, that’s great for MLS as a whole. But do I want it to be us? No, I don’t.
Another executive admitted:
Executive: Even if he joined on a free transfer, the salary he would demand would be astronomical. I’m really not sure we could afford a player like that, even if he came for free.
However, one executive, who has dreamed of Ronaldo scoring his 1000th career goal in his club’s jersey, gave an extremely blunt verdict.
Executive: I’d have to be crazy to say I don’t want to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
