Lionel Messi is expected to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, according to reports, as another club has signed a massive deal to enter the transfer market.
Argentina defeated France in the final of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year under Lionel Messi's leadership. Throughout the tournament, the Argentine captain performed admirably, earning him the Golden Ball award. The attacker returned to PSG and has already started playing for the Ligue 1 giants. This season, PSG will be trying to win the UEFA Champions League, which is what the club bought him for in the first place. Marca, a Spanish media outlet, claims that the Argentine maestro may be set to follow his archrival Cristiano Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League. It also appears that this may be the Argentine maestro's final season in France.
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Messi has not yet signed a new contract with PSG, which runs out this summer. Al-Ittihad are said to be favorites to acquire the former Barcelona captain, with Al-Hilal having previously held the lead. Ronaldo signed a two-and-a-half-year, estimated to be worth more than 200 million euros, contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in a sensational manner. Due to a contentious interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan in which the Portugal captain criticized the club's hierarchy and manager Erik ten Hag, the captain's contract with Manchester United was terminated.
Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will play a friendly against a select side made up of players from @Cristiano's new club Al-Nassr and their Saudi rivals Al-Hilal in Riyadh on 19 January, the French champions announced on Monday 👇https://t.co/OF19qnQDXv
— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) January 9, 2023
Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, according to reports, are prepared to offer Messi as much as 310 million euros. After the match ended in a 3-3 draw in a thrilling final, Argentina won the World Cup final 4-2 on penalties against France. Argentina scored first in a tightly contested match in the 23rd minute when Messi converted a penalty kick after Angel Di Maria was fouled in the French box. Di Maria made it 2-0 with an assist from Alexis MacAllister in the 36th minute of a quick counterattack. While Kylian Mbappe staged a comeback for France, it appeared that Argentina would easily win in the second half. Within 97 seconds, the PSG striker restored parity to the game. He converted a penalty kick in the 80th minute after Kolo Muani was brought down in the Argentinean box. France tied the score at 2-2 with a stunning volley in the 81st minute.
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After Messi scored in the 108th minute, Argentina appeared to have won after both teams began searching for a winner in extra time. However, in the 118th minute, Mbappe converted a penalty kick to make it 3-3 for his team. Argentina won the penalty shootout 4-2 thanks to goals from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who stopped Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Lionel Messi PSG contract
In addition, a report by The Athletic stated his contract included a near $30-million signing bonus, while Forbes reported that the player will also get a cut of player image rights, including jersey sales, which could potentially bump his annual salary up to the $75 million range.