Cristiano Ronaldo to Major League Soccer?

That's right, Cristiano Ronaldo to Major League Soccer.  This idea was the occasional pipe dream of many soccer fans here in the United States until recently.  During the recent Real Madrid preseason tour of America, CR7 did an interview in which he hinted at coming to MLS one day.  Now, this speculation has to be taken with a grain of salt.  I watched the interview and it was quite hard to tell if he wasn't merely flirting with the girl performing the interview.  He did, however, seem to have future MLS aspirations.  This move would be the biggest to ever happen to Major League Soccer.  It would make the David Beckham move look like a complete joke.  Comparing Ronaldo and Beckham on the field is not fair.  Beckham was world class, but Ronaldo's skill level far exceeds that of Beckham.



There are numerous similarities to the two players.  Both are international sex symbols.  Both are very image conscious and both are entrepreneurs.  I know many of the guys who follow soccer love CR7 for his sheer skill.  I also know girls who don't follow soccer but love CR7 for other reasons.  All of this combined lends itself to this move actually working in the future.  The trend now is for world class talent to come to our shores towards the end of their career.  I don't see Ronaldo making the move until he is basically accomplished everything he wants to in Europe.  He plays for arguably the best club in the world and has quite a paycheck.  I can see him coming over later in his career and getting paid an absurd amount of money.  If he plays his cards right he will be able to set himself up with potential ownership opportunities, a la Beckham, or he will increase his global marketability tenfold.  This will be hard to do for someone with 13 million Twitter followers, and who possibly is the most recognized athlete on the planet.  The big question is, "Where will Ronaldo play in MLS?" Unless the league's landscape has vastly changed by the time he decides to come over, the obvious choices are either LA Galaxy or Red Bull New York.  I have no idea where he will choose, if he ever does.