The debate over which league is more competitive, the Saudi Pro League or the MLS, has been gaining attention, especially after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi made their moves to these leagues. While big-name stars have been moving to the MLS for over a decade, Ronaldo was the first superstar to choose Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Pro League's involvement in football has grown significantly, with massive investments and notable victories. Players like Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, and Jordan Henderson have already made the popular switch to the Pro League.
However, according to Opta Analyst, the MLS remains superior. A study comparing the average power rating of MLS clubs (73.2) to those in the Saudi Pro League (70) showed that the MLS ranks higher in the world league rankings.
Both leagues have different approaches to growing the game in their countries. The MLS has strict spending rules and emphasizes the development of home-grown talent. In contrast, the Saudi Pro League has been spending heavily in this transfer window alone.
With the USA co-hosting the World Cup in 2026, the question remains whether Saudi Arabia can catch up to and surpass the MLS in overall quality.
