REVEALED: The Saudi contract Lionel Messi DID sign

Tom Weber

• Updated: 20 Jun 2023 00:28 BST
• 3 min read

Just because Lionel Messi intends to sign for Inter Miami doesn't mean that the business relations between him and Saudi Arabia will be tarnished.

The Argentine was the subject of an almighty tug-of-war between former club Barcelona and Riyadh giants Al-Hilal before eventually announcing - somewhat out of the blue - his intention to sign for David Beckham's Major League Soccer side Inter Miami instead following the expiration of his Paris Saint-Germain contract.

Despite rejecting Saudi Arabia's advances regarding a move at the footballing level, Messi continues to have business relations with the kingdom and details of his lucrative deal as the country's tourism ambassador have now emerged.

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It was a much-criticised move when it was announced and it is bound to ruffle feathers again now that it has been revealed that the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner is contractually obliged to whitewash Saudi Arabia's image.

Money talks

According to the New York Times, the World Cup winner could earn as much as €22.5 million from a role that requires little to no actual work other than making some social media posts, visits and - as is contractually stipulated - refraining from criticising the country in any way.

It scarcely needs mention that this was heavily insisted upon by Saudi officials during the negotiations given the country's notoriously spotty human rights record.

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This deal was one of the earliest of Saudi Arabia's new sports offensive that has now seen the country's Public Investment Fund - which owns Newcastle United and a stake in Clearlake Capital - take over the Saudi Pro League's four biggest clubs in order to lure big-name players to the country, including many from Clearlake-owned Chelsea.

Messi reportedly earns seven figures for each of his all-expenses-paid visits to the country and, looking at his social media activity, he is certainly holding up his end of the bargain.