Ronaldo was named captain of Riyadh ST XI -- a team made up of Al Nassr and Al Hilal players -- for an exhibition match on Thursday against Lionel Messi's Paris St Germain.
"It’s well-publicised the growth of the Al Nassr fanbase after Ronaldo joined, they went from under a million fans to like eight million in a space of like 10 days," said Joyce, who is CEO & co-founder of CLV Group and advises clubs on how best to maximise their revenues through engagement with their global fanbases.
"He’s got a heavy following around celebrities, TV, entertainment and pop music, so, there are content opportunities for Saudi Arabia to almost be a hub for TV and entertainment. Also to promote the country as a destination." "It's more of a short-term hit that they can get with him. But also, if they want to become the next version of the MLS . Think back to Pele," Joyce added.