"Both options seemed very interesting to me" - When Lionel Messi admitted he thought about following Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Pro League
Lionel Messi once said that he mulled joining his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia before eventually moving to MLS last summer. The 37-year-old plays for Inter Miami.
Following the expiry of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, Messi was contemplating his next destination amidst reports of interest from his former club Barcelona, Saudi Arabia and MLS.
In a December 2023 interview with TIME Magazine, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner said (as per Eurosport) that the Saudi Pro League was an option for him before he eventually opted to join the Herons in MLS.
"I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi league," Messi said. "I know the country and they have created a very powerful competition that can become an important league in the near future.
“As the country’s tourism ambassador, it was a destination that attracted me, especially because I’ve enjoyed everything I have visited, because of how football is growing in the country and because of the effort they are putting into creating a top competition. It was Saudi Arabia or MLS, and both options seemed very interesting to me."
As per TIME, Messi apparently rejected a lucrative offer worth 'hundreds of millions of dollars' from an unnamed Saudi club as he announced his move to MLS in June 2023.
The Argentina captain's deal with the Herons reportedly involves $20 million a year, an ownership stake in the team when he retires and a 'cut' of revenues by the league's media partner Apple.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in December 2022 on a free transfer. As per AFP (via GOAL), the 39-year-old has an annual salary of $215 million, said to be the biggest in the game, comprising a basic salary, image rights and commercial deals.
Ronaldo's role in Saudi Arabia's bid to land the 2030 FIFA World Cup is set to net him another £177 million ($237 million).
How have Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi fared this season?
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are arguably two of the biggest names to have graced the beautiful game and are still going strong despite being on the wrong side of 35.
Playing his second full season in Saudi Arabian football, Ronaldo is off to a sizzling start, registering five goals and two assists in six games across competitions, scoring in all but one outing.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, has endured an injury-plagued campaign with MLS Eastern Conference leaders Inter Miami but has still registered 16 goals and 12 assists in 18 games across competitions.