Ex-Inter Miami Star Reveals How Lionel Messi Delivered Brutal Dig at Cristiano Ronaldo Over MLS Impact
Brek Shea, a former midfielder for the U.S. men's national team and ex-MLS veteran, believes that Cristiano Ronaldo would have made a greater impact on Major League Soccer than Lionel Messi has achieved at Inter Miami.
Shea, who earned 34 international caps for the USMNT and played for Inter Miami through 2022, one year prior to Messi's arrival, argued that the Portuguese superstar and former Real Madrid icon could have elevated the league more substantially through his charisma, brand power, and social media influence.
"I believe Cristiano Ronaldo would have created a more significant impact on MLS than Lionel Messi," he shared with Spanish publication MARCA. "With all due respect to Messi, but Messi appears to be more of a private person."
"He maintains a reserved demeanor. He continues to struggle with the language. So I believe Ronaldo appears more extroverted, he engages in more public activities."
Cristiano Ronaldo's MLS Consideration
Ronaldo's possible move to MLS has been discussed numerous times previously. In 2022, while Ronaldo was at Juventus, Sporting Kansas City attempted to recruit him to the league and were ready to present a comparable package, including separate business opportunities beyond salary, similar to what Messi has received in Miami.
However, Ronaldo chose to join Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he commands an enormous salary and receives additional perks alongside his base compensation. His latest two-year contract renewal with the Saudi Arabian club is allegedly valued at $400 million.
Messi, conversely, collects $20.5 million in annual salary from Miami and also receives shares from Apple TV subscriptions for MLS broadcasts and other advantages.
Ronaldo remained largely absent from the United States for nearly a decade. Following Portugal's Euro 2016 celebration in Las Vegas, it wasn't until a widely covered White House visit in November that Ronaldo was seen again in the U.S. The seasoned striker is scheduled to return to American soil publicly once more in March when Portugal meets the USMNT in a pre-World Cup exhibition match in Atlanta.
"I believe just for those reasons, mastering the language, conducting interviews, I think he would have naturally created a greater impact," Shea continued, referencing Messi's pattern of rare interviews and absence of English in media appearances. "I'm discussing purely off-field matters. I'm uncertain if he would have produced identical statistics, but a greater impact? Absolutely, he would have delivered that."
Since joining MLS, Messi has captured two MLS MVP honors, a Golden Boot, and led Miami to victory in the MLS Cup, the Supporters' Shield, and the Leagues Cup, while accumulating 50 goals and 35 assists across 53 regular-season matches.