Bhubaneswar, Jan. 7 -- Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is not the first soccer heavyweight to head off to one of the world's minor leagues in the latter years of his career. The temptation for huge pay has forced great players like Pele, Johan Cruyff, Zico, Xavi Hernandez, and now the 37-year-old Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, prolonging their careers at unlikely soccer outposts.

Here is a look at some of the great players who have played in minor leagues and smaller clubs for big money.

Pele

The move changed US sports history. The Brazil great and winner of an unprecedented three World Cup winners' medals-Pele signed for the New York Cosmos in 1975. Pele earned $2.7 million for his two-and-a-half-year season with the clu...