Journalist Edu Aguirre, known for his friendship with Al-Nassr and Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, said that forward Lionel Messi would have given up the world title for a lucrative contract.
Messi would instantly give up the world title in order to get a contract similar to Ronaldo's contract with Al-Nassr. We are talking about a contract worth half a billion euros. Messi should also think about his future descendants.
Edu Aguirre, quoted by El Chiringuito
The signing of the 37-year-old Ronaldo and the club from Riyadh became known on December 31, 2022. The contract is valid for 2.5 seasons. The base salary of the forward will be $75 million a year, along with commercial payments and income for the role of an ambassador - $200 million a year. For Al-Nassr, bringing in a big-name striker is part of a big PR campaign to promote Saudi Arabia's football and the subsequent World Cup.
Paris Saint-Germain striker Messi won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Argentina's national team. At the 2022 World Cup the forward played seven matches, scored seven goals, gave three assists and was named the best player of the tournament.