Saudi Arabia Turned Down Messi Offer to Play in Saudi Pro League, Says Official

Saudi Arabia declined an offer for football superstar Lionel Messi to play a short-term stint in the Saudi Pro League, a senior sports official has revealed. Abdullah Hammad, CEO of the Mahd Sports Academy, said during a recent interview with the Saudi podcast Thmanyah that Messi’s representatives had approached him with a proposal for the Argentine forward to play in the Kingdom while the Major League Soccer (MLS) season pauses for several months.

“During the last Club World Cup, Messi’s team contacted me and offered for him to play in Saudi Arabia because the MLS will stop for nearly four months,” Hammad said. “The player wanted to stay active and prepare himself for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.”

Hammad explained that he relayed the offer to the Minister of Sports, who ultimately rejected it, stating that the Saudi Pro League should not be used merely as a temporary preparation ground for other competitions. The decision reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to elevate the Saudi Pro League as a competitive, long-term football destination rather than a short-term stop for global stars.

The discussion also touched on the contrasting paths taken by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in their late careers. While Messi reportedly set specific conditions for any potential move and has remained closely tied to Barcelona, Ronaldo fully embraced the challenge of a new league, culture, and continent when he joined Al Nassr in 2022 a move that helped catalyse Saudi Arabia’s broader football ambitions.

Messi, who was long linked with a potential move to the Saudi Pro League following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, ultimately chose to sign with Inter Miami in the United States. He has since extended his contract with the MLS club through 2028, solidifying his long-term commitment to the American league and its growing global profile.