Yes, Lionel Messi has a tourism ambassador contract with Saudi Arabia, earning millions to promote the country, but he does not have a playing contract with a Saudi football club, having turned down massive offers from clubs like Al-Hilal to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). His deal involves social media posts, trips, and promoting Saudi tourism as part of the kingdom's Vision 2030.
Messi rejected billion dollar offer from Saudi Arabia to join Inter Miami. Speaking to NIBC via Goal, Al-Hilal president Al Haili revealed that Messi turned down an offer worth an incredible $1.5bn to join the Saudi Arabian side, easily the biggest contract ever offered in the history of sports.
$1.6 billion was reportedly what Messi turned down from the Saudi League to join Inter Miami and MLS. Although, he will get paid in other ways including a share of Adidas Kit sales, Apple TV season pass revenue, and an option for ownership in the club when he retires.
The message behind the rejection
If Messi's approach had carried a sense of ambition and permanence rather than a brief off-season stint, the outcome might have been different. But as it stood, the offer didn't align with the Pro League's current direction, one that now prioritizes consolidation over spectacle.
No, Barcelona has officially settled its deferred salary debt to Lionel Messi and other 2020 squad members as of June 2025, making the final €16 million payment and closing out the original €121.7 million owed from pandemic-era salary cuts, though he'd been receiving payments for years prior. Messi received the largest share of the deferred wages, with his final installment around €5.96 million, marking the end of a long financial obligation that began with his contract restructuring.
Lionel Messi is significantly richer than David Beckham, with an estimated net worth of around $850 million compared to Beckham's roughly $450-$500 million, thanks to massive contracts, endorsements (Apple, Adidas), and business ventures, even as Beckham's Inter Miami ownership stake has grown considerably since Messi joined the team, says Businessday NG. Messi's earnings from his playing career and business ventures have surpassed Beckham's career earnings, making him the wealthier of the two legends.
FC Barcelona to Earn $1 Billion in Income for 2019/2020 Season. Football club earns a projected $1.089 billion in turnover for the year. Football club FC Barcelona has surpassed its budget goal for the 2019/2020 season and earned a record turnover of more than $1 billion.
While Lionel Messi hasn't made extensive public declarations specifically about LGBTQ+ rights, his actions and associations, like supporting inclusivity through his foundation and playing in leagues with anti-discrimination policies, suggest a general alignment with inclusive values, though some social media rumors about him refusing pro-LGBTQ+ ads are likely exaggerated or false, as he focuses on football, not being a symbol, according to a Facebook post.
The "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time) in football is a subjective debate, but Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are overwhelmingly considered the top contenders, with Messi often edging out due with recent major wins like the 2022 World Cup, though Ronaldo's longevity and dominance in multiple leagues also make a strong case, with many legends and publications naming Messi as #1. Other historical greats like Pelé and Maradona are also part of the conversation.
Lionel Messi is significantly richer than Virat Kohli, with estimated net worths in late 2025 ranging from $650 million to $850 million compared to Kohli's roughly $127 million (₹1050 crore). Messi's wealth stems from massive football contracts, lucrative deals with brands like Adidas, and investments, while Kohli earns primarily from his BCCI/IPL contracts and major endorsements in India, but Messi's overall fortune dwarfs Kohli's.
🚨 Manchester City once lodged a £35m bid with Barcelona for Lionel Messi by mistake, shortly after the club's takeover by Sheikh Mansour in 2008.
Combining Ballon d'Or, FIFA World Player of the Year and The Best FIFA Men's Player, Messi outperformed Ronaldo 12 to 8 in wins and 24 to 20 in podium finishes. Messi is also the only player in history to win the Ballon d'Or with 3 different clubs (Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain and Inter Miami).
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer to hit a $1 billion net worth - but that's not even the most impressive part. In an interview, he revealed he's been planning for retirement since age 28, and doesn't want to coach… he wants to own a team.
Yassine Cheuko, Lionel Messi's personal bodyguard at Inter Miami, receives an annual salary of three million dollars — a figure that makes him one of the highest-paid employees at the club outside the pitch.
Argentinean superstar Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain. Lionel Messi has agreed to a contract extension with Inter Miami that will see the Argentine superstar remain in Major League Soccer (MLS) until the end of the 2028 season, the club has confirmed.
And so you really have to applaud Al-Nassr's ambition in handing an estimated £492m to Cristiano Ronaldo over the next two years.
Messi will score 900th goal in 2026. Can he reach 1,000? Can he pass Ronaldo? Lionel Messi is never far from breaking his next record or hitting his next landmark, and he enters 2026 on the verge of yet another massive milestone in his incredible career: his 900th goal.
15 Best Dribblers in World Soccer—Ranked
The debate over who is better, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, is ongoing, with Messi often favored by stats for overall impact, playmaking, and recent World Cup win, while Ronaldo leads in sheer volume of official goals and Champions League titles, showcasing different elite styles—Messi with unmatched dribbling and vision, Ronaldo with physical dominance and goalscoring prowess. Both are considered among the greatest ever, with Messi holding more Ballon d'Or awards and overall trophies, while Ronaldo boasts more goals and Champions League victories across different leagues.
Cristiano Ronaldo has shared that he's been going to church, and it's amazing to witness. We're praying he truly encounters Jesus and chooses to walk with Him. There's a real shift happening right now, especially in football.
In October 2021, A-League Men player Josh Cavallo became the first openly gay active top flight footballer in the world. As of October 2025, Cavallo said that football remained "toxic" for gay players.
While Neymar is not a full-time vegan, his decision to adopt a plant-based diet to heal his body highlights the benefits of plant-based diets for recovery.
These clubs, namely Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Athletic Club, and CA Osasuna, all remain fully owned by their members (socios).
Yes, Nike signed Cristiano Ronaldo to a lifetime contract reportedly worth over $1 billion, making him one of only a few athletes (like LeBron James and Michael Jordan) with such a deal, which began around 2016 and pays him tens of millions annually for his ongoing endorsements and massive social media presence.
All the other clubs in La Liga owed less than €30m. As recently as 2018, Barcelona's financial debt was only €68m, but it is now the highest in Europe, a fair way above Tottenham Hotspur €990m, once again arising from funding a new stadium, and Manchester United €636m.