MLS & Saudi Professional League stats in contrast

June 13, 2025
7:28 am

Since leaving Europe in 2023, each Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have continued to supply the products in the US and Saudi Arabia. However who boasts the higher document?

Ronaldo determined to go away Europe after discovering himself as a free agent following the 2022 World Cup. He penned a blockbuster take care of Saudi aspect Al-Nassr in January 2023 and the remainder is historical past.

The Portuguese ahead scored 14 objectives in 16 league appearances throughout his debut season, averaging a purpose each 102.4 minutes.

He then grew to become much more prolific throughout his first full season with the membership in 2023-24. Regardless of falling in need of Al-Hilal within the league, Ronaldo nonetheless received the Saudi Professional League Golden Boot with ease.

Within the league alone, he scored 35 objectives and offered 11 assists in 31 video games, averaging a purpose contribution each 57.5 minutes. That’s some document.

His spectacular strike fee has continued this season too as he’s at the moment averaging a strike each 98.5 minutes, having already scored 23 league objectives.

Ronaldo has made it no secret that he’d like to attain 1,000 objectives earlier than he retires and based mostly on his present strike fee, he may attain that determine within the subsequent two years.

On the flip aspect, Messi left Europe behind just a few months after Ronaldo, becoming a member of Inter Miami in July 2023.

Because the MLS season runs from March to October annually, he was solely in a position to make six league appearances throughout his debut season with the membership.

Throughout his first full marketing campaign in 2024, Messi was in a position to present his brilliance as he guided Inter Miami to the Supporters’ Protect as they racked up 74 factors through the common season.

All through that marketing campaign, the Argentine ahead produced 30 purpose contributions in simply 19 appearances.

He’s made a powerful begin to the 2025 marketing campaign too, having scored three objectives and produced two assists throughout his first 5 league appearances.

Quite a few accidents have restricted Messi’s recreation time in latest seasons, however fingers crossed he’s in a position to stay injury-free all through 2025.

“In the summertime, Messi can have been right here for 2 years, and I feel he’s altering how the world sees MLS in a technique or one other,” Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano lately instructed reporters.

“There’s little question about that. Ultimately, we’re speaking a few participant who’s able to reaching all of that, of giving most visibility to a league like this.”

As an example simply how good Ronaldo and Messi have been since leaving Europe, we’ve in contrast their league stats within the Saudi Professional League and MLS.