The debate surrounding the Saudi Pro League (SPL) and Major League Soccer (MLS) has been reignited following comments from former Al-Nassr star Anderson Talisca, who used a past result to bolster his argument. Talisca pointed to Inter Miami's 6-0 defeat against Al-Nassr in February 2024 as evidence of the SPL's superiority.

The friendly match, part of Inter Miami's preseason tour, saw Lionel Messi make a late appearance as a substitute, while Cristiano Ronaldo was sidelined with an injury. Al-Nassr dominated the game, with Talisca himself scoring a hat-trick. Otavio, Aymeric Laporte, and Mohammed Maran also contributed to the scoreline.

Talisca's remarks, resurfacing recently, echo similar sentiments expressed by Cristiano Ronaldo in the past. Ronaldo has previously claimed that the SPL is a better league than MLS, a statement that stirred considerable debate within the footballing world. He has also stated that the Saudi Pro League will soon overtake the Turkish and Dutch leagues. Ronaldo's arrival to Al Nassr in December 2022 is seen as a major catalyst for attracting international talent to Saudi Arabia, elevating the league's global profile.

"The Saudi league has never been weaker than MLS. Messi's team went to Saudi Arabia and lost 6–0, there's no comparison," Talisca said. He further added a controversial statement about the difference in leagues by stating MLS has players that "play and then go to college to study".

Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami in 2023 has had a similar impact on MLS, increasing the league's visibility and attracting new fans. However, the differing approaches of the two leagues to growth and development are apparent. The SPL has invested heavily in attracting established stars with lucrative contracts, while MLS has historically taken a more gradual approach, focusing on sustainable growth and development of domestic talent.

Despite the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo, some observers suggest that both leagues can learn from each other. MLS could benefit from relaxing its salary cap restrictions to attract more elite players, while the SPL could focus on developing its infrastructure and grassroots programs to ensure long-term sustainability.

Currently, Inter Miami is preparing to face New York City FC in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Meanwhile, Ronaldo continues to chase milestones with Al Nassr, recently scoring a bicycle kick, bringing his career goal total to 954. The debate about which league is superior is expected to continue as both leagues evolve and attract more global attention.

It is important to note that the match between Al-Nassr and Inter Miami was a pre-season friendly, and Inter Miami was missing key players. Drawing definitive conclusions about the overall quality of the leagues based solely on this result may be misleading.