Major League Soccer appears to have been replaced as the retirement home for elite players coming from Europe's top leagues in recent seasons. With the rise of footballing wealth coming from Saudi Arabia, China and Qatar, those who previously appeared destined to end up in America are no longer making the move.
Whereas in the past 10 years the Champions League winning figures of David Villa, Andrea Pirlo, Bastien Schweinsteiger, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and most recently Gareth Bale, have all crossed to USA for an MLS honeymoon, there is more incentive elsewhere currently.
38-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo chose to join Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia after his contract at Manchester United was terminated. Karim Benzema, who this week announced he would be leaving Real Madrid after 14 years at the club, is set to join him in the league with Al-Ittihad.
