Saudi Arabia turned down the opportunity to secure Lionel Messi for a short-term stint in the Saudi Pro League ahead of the next World Cup, as per a top sports official.
Abdullah Hammad, CEO of the Mahd Sports Academy, revealed that Messi’s team approached him during the recent Club World Cup with an offer for the player to compete in Saudi Arabia due to the MLS season pause for about four months. The aim was for Messi to stay in form and gear up for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
Hammad drew a parallel to David Beckham’s move from Los Angeles Galaxy to AC Milan in 2010. Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient, made a switch to Inter Miami in 2023 following speculations about a move to Saudi Arabia, concluding a two-year tenure with Paris Saint-Germain, the team he joined in 2021 post his departure from Barcelona.
He mentioned that he forwarded the proposal to the sports minister, who refused it, emphasizing that the Saudi league was not intended to serve as a training ground for other competitions. When asked if Saudi Arabia had indeed declined Messi, he confirmed the statement.
Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival at Al-Nassr after the preceding World Cup, the Saudi league has welcomed several stars from major European clubs like Neymar and Karim Benzema. Moreover, Saudi Arabia has been granted the honor of hosting the 2034 World Cup.