Reporter: Ronaldo’s Salary Too High for MLS Move, Would Need Major Pay Cut
On February 8, journalist Raul Hollande reported on Al Arabiya’s “In the Goal” program that Cristiano Ronaldo’s extremely high salary makes a move to Major League Soccer very difficult, and he would need to accept a significant pay cut to join.

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Hollande said: “I consulted multiple MLS sources. Ronaldo’s salary makes a transfer to MLS highly unlikely. MLS rules, including the salary cap, apply even to superstars like him, and matching his wages would exceed league limits.”
He added: “For comparison, Messi earns $20 million per year, roughly half of Ronaldo’s signing bonus. If Ronaldo wants to play in MLS, he must drastically reduce his salary. If he’s currently protesting unpaid wages at Al-Nassr, I don’t know how he would approach MLS or whether he’d be satisfied, as MLS is structured very differently from the Saudi league.”
Hollande also noted: “Messi has other benefits and equity stakes, making his effective salary close to $70 million. MLS can accommodate some of this—take James Rodríguez joining Minnesota United at $5 million per year. When a player’s salary exceeds the cap, teams find ways to allocate funds. Messi’s case was handled similarly.”
He continued: “This could be a solution, but Ronaldo’s current situation complicates things. Some MLS clubs, like Orlando City, LAFC, or San Diego FC, might be suitable, similar to New York Red Bulls or NYCFC. However, salary remains the main obstacle, making a move extremely unlikely. Ronaldo is 41, near the end of his career. Even with the World Cup approaching, I consider an MLS transfer very difficult.”
Previously, Ronaldo’s annual salary at Al-Nassr was reported at €208.4 million, the highest in the Saudi Pro League.