“Messi's team went to Saudi Arabia and lost 6-0”

Former Al-Nassr star Anderson Talisca cheekily rummaged Lionel Messi and the MLS after Inter Miami's defeat against Cristiano Ronaldo-directed side. He said there was no comparison between the two leagues and the Asian league was much better.

Speaking in a video that resurfaced on social networksTalisca said the Saudi Pro League will never be “weaker” than MLS. He said the difference was clear when Inter Miami lost 6-0 to Al-Nassr in 2024 and said:

“The Saudi league has never been as weak as MLS. Messi's team went to Saudi Arabia and lost 6-0, there is no comparison. The league Messi plays in has players who play and then go to university to study; just from that you can already see a big difference.”

Cristiano Ronaldo also made a similar statement earlier this year, saying La Sexta:

“When I made the decision to come, I didn't think it would grow so quickly, but I knew that in one or two years the league would be very high, like it is today. People don't know, they think and talk too much.”

“I'm sorry because it's a different reality when people talk about Saudi Arabia and when they talk about the United States. Is MLS a worse league? Obviously, but because it's Saudi Arabia, it's looked down upon. But as I know people don't know what they're talking about… Just because of the people who are here, you have to value it.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a new contract at Al-Nassr, keeping him at the club until 2027. Lionel Messi has signed a three-year contract at Inter Miami, extending his stay at the MLS club until 2028.

Cristiano Ronaldo took a dig at Lionel Messi with 2023 MLS claim

Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken about the Saudi Pro League and MLS in 2023, saying the Asian league is better and will soon overtake some European leagues. He was taking a dig at the US league after Lionel Messi joined the club and said (via ESPN):

“The Saudi championship is better than MLS. I paved the way for the Saudi championship, and now all the players are coming here. In one year, more and more top players will come to Saudi Arabia. In one year, the Saudi championship will surpass the Turkish championship and the Dutch championship.”

Cristiano Ronaldo joined the Saudi Pro League in 2022, after terminating his contract at Manchester United. Lionel Messi joined MLS in 2023, after terminating his contract at Paris Saint-Germain.