credit: The Sun
The 2022 World Cup winner, Lionel Messi has been in a sensational form for his club and country this season and displayed tremendous performance against Cristiano Ronaldo-led Riyadh XI in a friendly on Thursday last week. Reportedly, the Argentina captain can join his arch-rival Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League as the former doesn't want to extend his contract with PSG.
The generational rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is the most anticipated fixture in the football world, which was seen in their recent face off in Saudi Arabia. The two greatest of all time faced each other for nine years in the La Liga and watching them squaring off against each other in the same league is nothing less than a dream come true moment for the football fans.
Ronaldo, who will turn 38 on Sunday next week, joined Saudi club Al-Nassr in January 2023 after parting ways with Manchester United following his bombshell interview with British journalist Piers Morgan. The Portuguese forward joined Al-Nassr for a record $214 million an year contract for 2.5 years.
Following Ronaldo's arrival in the Saudi Arabia, Al-Nassr's league rivals Al-Hilal have reportedly shown interest in signing Leo Messi for an even bigger contract. Although, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation General Secretary Ibrahim Alkassim downplayed the possibility of Messi's arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to Marca, Ibrahim Alkassim said, "At the moment we do not know anything about a possible Lionel Messi arrival. Although I will not hide that, as the Saudi Federation, we would like to have him one day in the domestic league."
"The idea of the Federation is always to improve our football, and of course we would like to see Cristiano and Messi in the same league again, but the truth is that we don’t know anything now," he further added.
Lionel Messi to not renew his contract with PSG?
The 35-year-old Messi's contract with Paris Saint-Germain will expire in the summer this year and reportedly, the Argentine magician doesn't want to renew his contract with the French giants.
The record seven-time Ballon d'Or winner joined PSG in the summer of 2021 after parting ways with his boyhood club Barcelona. After Messi won the World Cup, many media outlets reported that the Argentina forward will extend his contract with PSG, however, a well known Barcelona-based journalist, Gerard Romero believes contrarily.
Romero said, "Leo Messi’s renewal with PSG is not so certain, and it doesn’t seem he will renew."
Although, Messi's arrival to Saudi Arabia is not confirmed, reports have emerged that the PSG star could join his former club Barcelona. The Catalan giants were facing a financial crisis and had to part ways with their star forward in 2021.