Union

If Cristiano Ronaldo Wanted a Real Challenge, He’d Abandon the Empty Stadiums of the Saudi Camel League and Join Philadelphia Union

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Feb 26th, 2026 · 1:35 PM EST

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I’m sorry but this is ridiculous. Cristiano Ronaldo is 41 years old and scoring penalties inside of empty stadiums in the camel league:

Ronaldo scores his 965th career goal ‼️

He puts Al-Nassr in front first from the penalty spot 🎯 pic.twitter.com/zNQkDUGTCm

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 25, 2026

This is amateur hour, Saudi Arabia, where superstars go for a payday and to play in front of 15 fans. There’s not a single thing that’s interesting about that league. Same 5 or 6 teams at the top, with a handful of European and African mercenaries alongside a bunch of local players who are barely good enough to play for the Ocean City Nor’Easters and Reading Rage United. And Ronaldo supporters have the audacity to rip Major League Soccer and call it a “retirement league” and all of this other nonsense.

The thing about Messi vs. Ronaldo is that Messi is at least challenging himself in the twilight of his career. He came over here and joined a flailing Miami team that was truly horrendous. He sold a bazillion shirts, attracted more star talent, and put that team on the map. He’s won trophies over here and put a lot of eyeballs on the product. Ronaldo hasn’t won a single thing over there while Messi took a team straight to the top of the table and even had them battling in the Club World Cup last summer.

MLS is unique as a domestic league because it has a lot of parity. Miami wasn’t exactly swatting aside teams with ease. They really had to battle and get the roster right and find out how to make it work outside of just throwing millions of dollars around. Say what you will about Messi, Rodrigo de Paul, Luis Suarez, Busquets / Alba, etc, but they nailed their fringe signings with guys like Tadeo Allende and Telasco Segovia and got big contributions from the middle and the bottom of the roster. They were appointment viewing for non-Euro Snob soccer fans over here.

Who is watching the camel league these days? Not us. But we watched Messi and Miami because they were compelling.

If Ronaldo really wanted a challenge, he’d come over to the States and go after Messi directly. He would show everyone that he’s more than just a penalty kick merchant playing in a Sunday beer league.

Ronaldo should join Philadelphia Union. Get Kevin Durant on the phone and tell him to do something for once:

crappy Grok photo