Soccer, known as football in many parts of the world, has witnessed a significant surge in popularity beyond its traditional European strongholds. The Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Saudi Pro League (SPL) are prime examples of this globalization of the sport. With prominent players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo making noteworthy moves, an intriguing debate has emerged regarding which league is more challenging.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football maestro who stunned the footballing world by signing with Saudi club Al-Nassr last year, ignited a revolution that saw numerous top players flocking to the league. Following this groundbreaking move, another iconic player, Lionel Messi, opted to join Inter Miami instead of continuing in Europe.

In just a month’s time, Messi’s arrival has taken the American soccer scene to unprecedented heights. With these high-profile transfers, the lingering question is: which league proves to be more demanding?

MLS or Saudi Pro League- Which one is tougher?

Since Ronaldo and Messi’s respective moves, fans have engaged in passionate discussions, each side defending their chosen league. The Saudi Pro League, backed by immense wealth, has succeeded in attracting big-name players like Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and Sadio Mane among many other names.

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The MLS on the other hand, boasts a rich history that blossomed with David Beckham‘s arrival in 2007. This move subsequently opened the gates and attracted several other football greats, like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, and now Lionel Messi. To add flare to the debate, Ronaldo recently made a bold statement, publicly declaring that the Saudi Pro League surpasses the MLS in terms of quality.

However, Opta Analyst conducted a comprehensive study to shed light on this debate. The study analyzed the average power ratings of the clubs in both leagues. According to the study, the average power rating of MLS clubs stands at an impressive 73.2. This exceeds the Saudi Pro League’s average club rating of 70.0.

This ranking places the MLS as the 29th strongest league globally, while the SPL ranks 36th. These findings strongly suggest that, on average, the MLS offers tougher competition than its Saudi counterpart. While Cristiano Ronaldo boldly proclaimed the superiority of the SPL, the numbers tell a different story.

What did Cristiano Ronaldo say about the league in which Lionel Messi plays?

Lionel Messi was officially presented as an Inter Miami player on Sunday, July 16. The DRV PNK Stadium was filled to capacity as fans gathered to witness this momentous occasion. However, the spotlight quickly shifted to his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo the following day.

In an interview, Ronaldo addressed speculation about his future, specifically regarding a potential move to Major League Soccer (MLS) or a return to Europe. While he firmly stated that returning to Europe is not an option for him at this time, he also made a provocative comment about MLS. “The Saudi league is better than MLS,” CR7 stated. Naturally, this remark ignited intense discussions among soccer enthusiasts around the globe.

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Which league do you think is better? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.