Cristiano Ronaldo to battle Lionel Messi in MLS after going on strike at Al Nassr

Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo was a notable absentee from Al Nassr’s 1–0 victory over Al Riyadh on February 2.

Pulse Sports reported that the forward is fully fit but chose to sit out as a calculated protest against the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The crux of Ronaldo's frustration appears to be a perceived lack of ambition and imbalanced investment within the Saudi Pro League.

While Al Nassr’s winter transfer window was relatively quiet, highlighted only by the arrival of young Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem, their direct rivals have continued to secure world-class talent.

The final straw reportedly came on deadline day when Karim Benzema was allowed to join league leaders Al-Hilal from Al-Ittihad.

Ronaldo reportedly views these moves as a direct threat to fair competition, famously arguing that the PIF is "giving a helping hand" to his rivals while leaving Al Nassr stagnant in the title race.

This internal rift has immediately shifted the spotlight toward North America, where Major League Soccer is emerging as the frontrunner for his next chapter.

With the 2026 World Cup set to kick off across the United States, Mexico, and Canada this summer, a move to the MLS would offer Ronaldo a perfect platform to maintain his global visibility.

A move to the MLS could provide the "Last Dance" scenario fans have long craved, potentially placing Ronaldo in the same league as his eternal rival, Lionel Messi.

Messi has completely transformed the MLS, and adding a player with the prestige of Ronaldo could send the league to a completely different stratosphere.

There is no guarantee that any move is likely at this stage but the rumour mill is spinning, and the longer the tension grows between Ronaldo and Al Nassr, the louder the noises get.