Messi set to receive €400m offer to become best paid player in football history

Cameron Smith

• 22 Apr 2023 22:55 BST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi is set to receive an offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal to become the best paid player in football history, according to reports.

The 36-year-old is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract ends this summer, with L'Equipe and the Mirror reporting that he won't be extending his stay at the Parc des Princes into the 2023/23 season.

Messi has been heavily linked with a return to Barcelona, with club president Joan Laporta recently admitting he wants to bring the Argentine back home.

READ: Lionel Messi at PSG: Goals, assists, results & fixtures in 2022-23

However, Barcelona aren't the only club interested in poaching Messi this summer. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner is also wanted in Saudi Arabia, with Al Hilal ready to offer him €400 million per season to join them, according to jorunalist Rudy Galetti.. That would make Messi the highest-paid football player in history.

Galetti has reported that a meeting will take place in Paris between Al Hilal and Messi's representatives on 1 May, the day after PSG's Ligue 1 clash against Lorient.

During that meeting, Al Hilal will reportedly confirm their intention of offering Messi a mega contract.

READ: Messi to LEAVE PSG this summer as Barcelona close in

Messi to join Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia?

If Messi were to accept Al Hilal's contract offer, he would join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League.

Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr after the 2022 World Cup following his contract termination at Manchester United. He has scored 11 goals and assisted a further two in just 12 appearances for his new club.

Barcelona are expected to offer Messi the opportunity to return to Camp Nou, and with Xavi now at the helm, the Blaugrana are hopeful of landing the club legend.

Messi has 19 goals and 16 assists in 34 appearances this season. Only Kylian Mbappe (41) has more goal contributions than Messi (35) in the PSG squad this campaign.