I almost followed Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia

Lionel Messi, now with Inter Miami, disclosed that he seriously contemplated joining the Saudi Professional League, closely following the footsteps of his longtime rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. This consideration arose when it became evident that his time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) was coming to an end.

The 36-year-old football icon, a sought-after talent last summer, had interest from Barcelona, Inter Miami, and Al-Hilal. Ultimately, Messi opted for a move to the USA, but he recently admitted that he gave serious thought to the tempting offer from the Gulf nation.

Messi, who was named TIME magazine’s Athlete of the Year, shared in an interview that his initial preference was to return to Barcelona after departing PSG. However, given the financial challenges faced by the club, a feasible deal couldn’t materialize at that time.

Reflecting on his decision-making process, Messi revealed, “I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi League, where I know the country. 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.”