"Messi’s team went to Saudi Arabia and lost 6-0" - When Cristiano Ronaldo's former teammate explained why MLS is not comparable to SPL

Former Al-Nassr star Anderson Talisca took a cheeky dig at Lionel Messi and the MLS after Inter Miami lost to the Cristiano Ronaldo-led side. He said that there was no comparison between the two leagues and that the Asian league was miles better.

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

“The Saudi league has never been weaker than MLS. Messi’s team went to Saudi Arabia and lost 6–0, there’s no comparison. The league Messi plays in has players who play and then go to college to study; just from that, you can already see a big difference.”

Cristiano Ronaldo also made a similar claim earlier this year, telling La Sexta:

“When I made the decision to come I didn't think it was going to grow so fast, but I knew that in one or two years the league would be very top, as it is now. 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 since I know that people don't know what they're talking about... Just because of the people who are here you have to give it value.”

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

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

Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo spoke about the Saudi Pro League and MLS in 2023, claiming that the Asian league was better and would soon overtake some European leagues. He was taking a dig at the United States league after Lionel Messi moved to the club and said (via ESPN):

"The Saudi league is better than MLS. I opened the way to the Saudi league, and now all the players are coming here. In one year, more and more top players will come to Saudi. In a year the Saudi league will overtake the Turkish league and Dutch league."

Cristiano Ronaldo moved to the Saudi Pro League in 2022, after his contract at Manchester United was terminated. Lionel Messi moved to MLS in 2023, after running down his contract at Paris Saint-Germain.