Lionel Messi’s next move in football away from Inter Miami is likely to see him reach the goldmine – or maybe oil well - otherwise known as Saudi Arabia.
Messi has been with the Major League Soccer side since 2023 and has won both the Leagues Cup and the Supporters’ Shield there.
The Argentine has won eight Ballon d’Ors and is regarded as the greatest footballer of all time by many. He has scored nearly 900 career goals, with 49 coming in 59 games for Inter Miami.
Saudi Arabia was a potential destination for Messi when he left PSG in 2023, before arriving in Florida, but the prospect of the move to the Middle East is back on the cards. The Saudi interest stems from their ambition to make Messi, along with long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the face of the nation’s Pro League.
If he moves to Saudi, a weekly wage no less than $1 million a week is his likely basic rate. Messi gets a chance to showcase his skills in the FIFA’s billion-dollar gamble to revolutionise club football beginning next weekend. There are 32 teams contesting the expanded Club World Cup in 12 stadiums across the United States.
The tournament – designed as a glittering curtain-raiser for the 2026 World Cup – has had sluggish ticket sales along with controversial qualification rules and player welfare concerns after an exhausting European season.
Messi’s Inter Miami face Egypt’s Al Ahly in the opening fixture on June 14 in Miami, with tickets still widely available, while FIFA’s website shows seats can still be bought for the July 13 final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
Inter Miami controversially gained their slot by topping MLS’s regular season standings, despite then losing in the first round of the playoffs, in a decision critics say showed FIFA’s desperation to have the Argentina great at the showpiece.
Inter Miami were thus included as the host nation representative - instead of MLS champions LA Galaxy - with Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders making it three US teams after qualifying through their CONCACAF performances.
Divided into eight groups of four teams, top contenders include Real Madrid, winners of six of the last 12 Champions League titles, plus German champions Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Latest European champions Paris St Germain are the in-form team heading into the tournament after their historic 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday.
But they must survive a tough Group B featuring South American and Brazilian champions Botafogo and 2024 CONCACAF winners Seattle Sounders plus Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
We appreciate your feedback. You can comment here with your pseudonym or real name. You can leave a comment with or without entering an email address. All comments will be reviewed before they are published.
Comments (0)
We appreciate your feedback. You can comment here with your pseudonym or real name. You can leave a comment with or without entering an email address. All comments will be reviewed before they are published.