“Cristiano Ronaldo could ruin his legacy if he joins Lionel Messi.”

Cristiano Ronaldo faces a stern warning: joining Lionel Messi in the MLS could destroy his legacy!

The football world is on high alert following the blunt statements from former New York Red Bulls forward, Bradley Wright-Phillips, who raised alarm bells about the future of Cristiano Ronaldo. According to Wright-Phillips, the iconic Portuguese forward is about to “ruin his legacy” if he decides to join Lionel Messi in Major League Soccer (MLS), the North American league that has been attracting global stars, but which, according to the former player, may not be the ideal stage for Ronaldo at this point in his career.

Ronaldo, 41, had a controversial exit from Manchester United at the end of 2022, following a public disagreement with coach Erik ten Hag, culminating in a mutual contract termination. Since then, he has surprised the world by opting to reject offers from Europe and signing with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he has been a goal-scoring machine, with an impressive 124 goals in 139 matches.

However, recent rumors indicate some discontent from the star at the Saudi club, especially after the team finished in third place in the league and failed to reach the final of the AFC Champions League. Despite this, Ronaldo renewed his contract until June 2027, in a deal valued at around £492 million, consolidating one of the largest fortunes in sports.

The most publicized scenario now has Ronaldo contemplating a return to Western football, particularly to MLS, where Messi has already established himself at Inter Miami. The Portuguese forward does not rule out the possibility of continuing to play until the 2030 World Cup, stating: “I haven’t completely ruled out the possibility of playing in the 2030 World Cup. If I continue to score goals every week at 41 years old, maybe I can play for another four years.”

But Wright-Phillips, who holds the record for the most goals by a European in MLS, is categorical: Ronaldo should not take that step. In an interview with Covers.com, the former player warned that MLS could be the stage for the fall of the Portuguese legend, especially because, unlike Messi, who still maintains a very high level to surpass opponents individually, Ronaldo may no longer possess the same magic.

“I don’t want to see Cristiano Ronaldo in MLS – it’s too late in his career. Messi is still at a level where he can win one-on-one duels. I’m not sure if Ronaldo can still create that magic. If he’s not in shape, a move to MLS could ruin his legacy,” warned Wright-Phillips. The former forward also recalled Olivier Giroud’s difficult adaptation at LAFC, a player whose influence has drastically diminished, and fears that the same could happen to Ronaldo, although he acknowledges that his arrival would bring visibility to the league.

However, the MLS landscape is far from solely negative. Antoine Griezmann has already confirmed that he will move to Orlando City next season, while Neymar Jr. has been strongly linked to FC Cincinnati. Wright-Phillips sees these moves as a clear growth in the quality and competitiveness of the league.

“If you have the opportunity to sign Neymar, you have to take it. He is probably the most underrated player in the world. Despite the noise around him, when he plays, he is on the same level as Messi and Ronaldo,” said the former striker, highlighting the positive impact that stars like Neymar, Griezmann, and even Son Heung-Min have had on MLS, both in sporting and commercial terms.

But not everything is rosy for the new signings. Wright-Phillips warns that Griezmann faces a complicated challenge at Orlando City, a team that is not in a good moment, and questions whether the Frenchman is aware of the reality he will encounter.

The imminent battle between Ronaldo and Messi, whether in MLS or another league, is far from being just a sporting spectacle. It is a fight for legacy, for glory, and for eternity in football. And, by all indications, Wright-Phillips’ warning is a sign that not all off-field decisions are easy for the giants of the game. Cristiano Ronaldo will have to carefully consider his next move – the world will be watching.

This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).