Soccer continues to be dominated by the fierce rivalry between two legendary players. The battle between them became more intense when Ronaldo joined the La Liga. Both players have participated in over 600 matches and scored more than 600 goals in Spain. Their presence in the Spanish league attracted a lot of attention and interest from fans. Surprisingly, their departure did not have a negative impact on the league, according to Javier Tabas, the president of La Liga.
Recently, both players chose to go their separate ways. CR7 moved to the Saudi Pro League, while the World Cup winner ventured into the MLS. However, Tabas does not lament their departure. In an interview, Tabas revealed that La Liga’s numbers remained stable even after losing these iconic players. He stated, “They haven’t caused any damage because we haven’t declined, but with them, we would certainly have grown faster.” In contrast, the leagues where they landed did not experience significant improvements in viewership.
Tabas further pointed out that the French league, despite having Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé, did not grow. Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Italy did not result in increased international revenues for the Italian league. On the other hand, La Liga managed to maintain its revenues despite losing both players, highlighting their minimal impact on other leagues.
Both players made La Liga a dominant force in the football world. During their time in the league, La Liga teams won six out of nine UEFA Champions League trophies. Additionally, the Ballon d’Or award remained in Spain while Messi and Ronaldo were in the league. In terms of earnings, reports indicate that La Liga experienced a slight increase in revenue after Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid but has since remained stable.
Meanwhile, both players are making waves in their new environments. Cristiano Ronaldo has attracted numerous players to join him in the Saudi Pro League, while Lionel Messi has brought in a significant increase in viewership and sales. However, it seems that the torch has been passed on to the next generation.
On the other hand, Tabas is already excited about the upcoming prospects. He mentioned, “This year we have the best in the world, who is Bellingham; last season Lewandowski was at a great level; Atlético has Griezmann; if Mbappé comes, that will help us to be more competitive and grow even faster.” La Liga eagerly awaits the arrival of Kylian Mbappé, who is likely to join Real Madrid. But can he fill the void left by Messi and Ronaldo? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
According to the Source essentiallysports.com