Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Global football icon Lionel Messi could soon be joining long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League, as fresh reports suggest negotiations have resumed over a possible switch to the Middle Eastern competition.
According to sources cited by TEAMtalk, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) has reopened dialogue with Messi’s representatives, exploring the possibility of luring the Argentine superstar away from the United States once his current deal with Inter Miami expires.
Messi, who opted for Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2023 after departing Paris Saint-Germain, had previously considered a move to Saudi Arabia and even spoke positively about the league’s potential. In an interview with TIME Magazine, he revealed, “I was seriously considering the Saudi league. I know the country well, and they’ve made major investments to build a world-class competition.”
As Saudi Arabia’s official tourism ambassador, Messi praised the country’s hospitality and growing football infrastructure, calling it a destination that intrigued him as both a professional and public figure. “It was either Saudi Arabia or the MLS. Both were appealing in different ways,” he added.
Since his arrival in the United States, Messi has enjoyed on-field success with Inter Miami, earning accolades and helping to raise the profile of soccer in North America. However, his contract is set to expire at the end of the 2025 MLS season, though a 12-month extension clause remains a possibility.
As of now, no new deal has been finalized, leaving Messi eligible to negotiate with other clubs as a free agent from July 1. With the Saudi Pro League continuing its high-profile recruitment drive, the door appears open for one of football’s greatest to reignite his rivalry with Ronaldo in the Gulf region.
Should the move materialize, it would mark a new chapter in the careers of both players—this time not in Europe, but on the ambitious stage of Middle Eastern football.
By Enoch Odesola | May 31, 2025
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