OpinionCould Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi finish their careers in Major League Soccer?

The generational superstars will soon face the one opponent they can’t beat – Father Time

The question now: will they stay in Europe to ride out their playing days, or follow in the footsteps of other players looking for on-field rejuvenation?

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Could a twilight career resurgence in the MLS be in the cards for either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Photo: AFP

Published: 7:00pm, 6 Jun 2019Updated: 9:00pm, 8 Jun 2019

As 37-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic and 33-year-old Wayne Rooney tear up Major League Soccer again for the second straight year, one has to wonder: who’s next? The list of players who have travelled overseas in the twilight of their careers now reads like an all-star team for the first part of the 21st century.

David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Andrea Pirlo, Robbie Keane, David Villa, Kaka, Steven Gerrard, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Italian Sebastian Giovinco also made waves by heading to the MLS while still in the prime of his career before leaving for Saudi Arabia, and Mexico’s Carlos Vela, 30, has a new lease of life and leads the league in goals.

As football’s current duo of generational superstars, 34-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and 31-year-old Lionel Messi enter the denouement of their careers, it may not be a stretch to think in a few seasons one of them playing in the USA. Of course, for Ronaldo, legal issues could still scupper that potential move.

The MLS turned a few heads this year when expansion team Atlanta United FC, currently third in the Eastern Conference 15 games into the season, shattered average attendance records. This wasn’t just in the MLS, Atlanta beat every other North American sports team (52,409) outside of the NFL, a league dealing with declining attendance and viewers.

It’s tough to think of either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo other than anything but superstars on the field, but that day will come. Photo: AFP