'I know Cristiano Ronaldo well from Man Utd – we'd all love a reunion with Lionel Messi'
One of the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo’s former Manchester United team-mates has urged the forward to reunite with long-time rival and fellow world-beater, Lionel Messi
by Ben Crawford · The MirrorFormer Manchester United and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre has urged Cristiano Ronaldo to join fellow superstar and rival Lionel Messi out in the MLS.
Since playing alongside Silvestre between 2003 and 2008 during his first stint at Old Trafford, Ronaldo has gone from a relatively unknown teenager to one of the sport’s greatest players, scoring over 900 career goals and claiming a vast list of silverware.
The Portuguese left his former employers for a second time in November 2022 in the wake of an infamously lambasting interview given to Piers Morgan, and landed in the Saudi Pro-League with Al Nassr - with whom he broke the league's single-season scoring record.
Yet, as unlikely as it would be, Silvestre admitted that he and many football fans would love to see Ronaldo face off against the man who often steals the title of being the sport’s greatest, Messi, once again in the US, as they previously did for years in La Liga at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
“It would be amazing to see Cristiano Ronaldo competing against Lionel Messi in the MLS, it would be a dream for football fans,” Silvestre admitted to Norskebettingsider.
“However, I think he is happy in Saudi and is the face of the league out there. He is also still playing for Portugal. Maybe after the World Cup, he’ll decide to make a change in what might be the last transfer of his career."
Defender Silvestre played alongside Ronaldo for five seasons before the Frenchman jumped ship to Premier League rivals Arsenal. He played 43 times for the Gunners over two years and, after a stint with Werder Bremen, found himself playing in America with Portland Timbers.
Ronaldo and Silvestre shared the pitch on 138 occasions at Old Trafford, assisting one another for one goal apiece and lifting a Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup title as team-mates.
Despite Silvestre playing just eight games in the MLS, he feels it would be the ideal next destination for Ronaldo, and rekindling a rivalry with Messi would be groundbreaking.
The chances of Ronaldo leaving the Saudi Pro League, however, are incredibly slim. At 39, the forward's contract will expire midway through 2025, but he has hinted he would be open to extending it until 2027.
Previous comments suggest that Ronaldo would also wish to retire at his current club, as he told NOW: “I don’t know if I will retire soon, in two or three years, but probably I will retire here at Al Nassr.”
With a base salary of £60million, lower taxes, luxury villas and cars, and the various perks that come with being the face of a division, Ronaldo seems firmly grounded in Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, his peer Messi seems just as settled in the US. His much lower base salary of roughly £16m is bolstered by revenue-sharing agreements with Apple TV and Adidas, further brand ambassadorial roles, and the option to purchase an MLS franchise in the future, much like the owner of his current side, Inter Miami, David Beckham, received as part of his LA Galaxy deal.
The Argentinian’s contract expires in December 2025, but he has hinted at his final club being in Miami, saying earlier this year: "As of today, it [Inter Miami] is gonna be my last one [club]."
While it remains near impossible that the two will clash in their respective leagues ever again, as Silvestre stated, the possibility remains that they could go head-to-head at the 2026 World Cup should stars align, as neither has ruled out playing in the tournament to date.
Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky Sports deal
Sky Sports launches discounted Premier League package
£46 (was £56)
Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.