Lionel Messi has reportedly been presented with an offer from a Saudi Pro League team aiming to revive his long-standing rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. This development arises as Messi’s contract renewal talks with Inter Miami face delays ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
According to a report by Al Yawn, shared by YS Scores, the unnamed Saudi club is eager to sign the Argentine star, hoping his arrival will boost both the league’s popularity and reignite the competitive spark between two of football’s greatest players. Messi’s potential move to the Middle East comes after stalled negotiations with his current MLS club Inter Miami.
Messi’s past consideration of Saudi Arabia and his thoughts on the region
Messi had previously considered joining the Saudi Pro League in 2023, following his exit from Paris Saint-Germain. At the time, he expressed a preference to return to Barcelona but eventually ruled out that option. Instead, he found himself weighing offers from both the Saudi league and Major League Soccer.
On this decision, Messi said:
“I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi league. 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.”
—Lionel Messi, Footballer and Tourism Ambassador
Although the report does not specify which club has made the new proposal, speculation points toward Al Ahli. This club finished just three points behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in the latest season, adding extra intrigue to a potential Messi-Ronaldo showdown in the league.
Calls to bring Ronaldo to MLS to heighten competition with Messi
Former US Men’s National Team player Alexi Lalas has voiced strong support for Cristiano Ronaldo joining the MLS, hoping it will fuel renewed competition against Lionel Messi on American soil. Lalas emphasized the significance of their rivalry not only in terms of sporting excellence but also as a global brand.
Speaking on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Lalas stated:
“Absolutely, there’s a world where he lands in the MLS. Kind of the final frontier for him, and when I say him we’re also talking about his brand, I’m here for it. Bring it. I love it. I know the whole retirement type of thing gets thrown around, but these are arguably two of the best players ever to play the game, and that we have them, and you just mentioned what Messi is doing is great, but they also, their brands are relative to what they have done with each other and against each other over the years. And so to kind of rejuvenate that would be kind of cool.”
—Alexi Lalas, Former USMNT Player
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has indicated his intention to remain with Al Nassr for the foreseeable future, adding complexity to the prospect of both icons clashing once again in MLS.
What a Messi move to Saudi Arabia could mean for football’s global landscape
Messi’s reported offer from a Saudi Pro League club comes at a crucial moment as the league seeks to establish itself among the world’s top competitions. Signing a player of Messi’s caliber would enhance the league’s international appeal and could lead to heightened media attention and fan interest, especially given the ongoing rivalry with Ronaldo, one of the sport’s most marketable figures.
If Messi accepts the offer, it could signal a shift in the balance of football power toward the Middle East, highlighting the region’s commitment to attracting elite talent. This move would also add a dramatic new chapter to the Messi-Ronaldo saga, captivating football fans worldwide as their competitive story continues outside traditional European leagues.