5 legendary footballers who could end their career in the MLS

#3 Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale has only made three appearances this season

Despite having four Champions League titles under his belt, Gareth Bale has never received the respect he deserves from the Real Madrid faithful.

While Bale may not have lived up to the ridiculous expectations of the Madridistas, he would have been considered a club legend almost anywhere else. In 254 appearances for Los Blancos, Bale has been directly involved in 174 goals (106 goals, 68 assists).

That includes his stunning solo goal in the Copa Del Rey final against Barcelona, where he sprinted from his own half to secure a 2-1 victory for Madrid on the night.

Bale was extremely impressive for Tottenham Hotspur on loan last season, but has failed to nail down a starting spot under Carlo Ancelotti this campaign. The Welshman has registered only three appearances this season, scoring a goal in his limited playing time.

Bale still looks unsettled in the Spanish capital, and his relationship with the fans remains a fractured one. That could force Bale to part ways with Real Madrid and spend the last few years of his illustrious career in America in the MLS.

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#2 Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo could wind up his career at Sporting or in the MLS.

Much to the dismay of football fans worldwide, the Ronaldo-Messi era is nearing its end, with both legends in their mid-30s now.

Even at 36, Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the fittest footballers around. and could easily carry on at the highest level until 40. The Portuguese recently signed a two-year contract with Manchester United, with the option of extending it by another year.

That could mean that Ronaldo might depart Old Trafford when he's 38 or 39, with a couple of years still left in his tank. While there are rumours that the Portuguese might return to his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon, a move to the MLS could also be on the cards.

In an interview with GQ back in 2016, Ronaldo said:

"What's happening there is great, it's fantastic—maybe in the future will be a good chance for me to play there. You never know, but it's something interesting."

The Manchester United man continued:

"I consider it, of course, because as I've said, soccer there has become better and better, so why not? I think that this is maybe going to be possible."

It remains to be seen if Ronaldo treads the MLS route or opts to call it time on his legendary career at his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon.

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#1 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi could retire in the Americas in the MLS.

Along with Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is nearing the end of his glorious career after dominating world football since his debut in 2003.

The Argentine recently won his first major international trophy, claiming the 2021 Copa America title for Argentina, who beat hosts Brazil 1-0 in the final. However, Barcelona shocked the footballing world when they announced that they were unable to offer Messi an extension due to falling foul of La Liga regulations. That forced Messi to make the first transfer of his career, joining forces with Neymar and Mbappe at PSG.

While the Argentine has gotten off to a slow start in Paris, he has been extremely impressive in the Champions League. Messi has scored three times in as many appearances in Europe's elite club tournament for his new club.

The Barcelona faithful will hope Messi returns to the Camp Nou in the near future. In all probability, Messi, too, might be keen to complete the final lap of his career at Barcelona. However, the Blaugrana are still under massive financial stress and cannot afford to sign Messi for the next couple of years, at the very least.

If the financial situation at Barcelona keeps worsening, Messi could play the final leg of his career in the MLS. As a South American native, the MLS could be the perfect destination for the Argentine.