Lionel Messi is one of the greatest soccer players to have ever touched a ball. The iconic Argentinian forward claimed his first World Cup title in 2022. However, at the club level, drama and controversy have persisted ever since he left Barcelona in 2021. Despite joining perennial French champions PSG, questions surrounding just how long he will remain in France have dogged the veteran player. In recent weeks, the notoriously harsh crowd at PSG's Parc des Princes has begun to boo Messi. This has been exacerbated as PSG has dropped back-to-back matches at home.
All of this culminated in a new destination being floated for the next stop in Messi's career. Saudi Arabia has become increasingly prominent on the soccer world stage in recent months. First, the Arab nation shocked Messi's Argentinian side in their opening match of the 2022 World Cup. Then, fellow soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo signed a massive deal to join the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Now rumors suggest that Messi might soon become Ronaldo's club rival.
Lionel Messi Linked With Saudi Club
According to a report from ESPN, Lionel Messi has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. Al-Hilal is the biggest and most successful club in Saudi Arabia. They have won a record 18 league titles, including a three-peat in the last three seasons. Al-Hilal has also won the Asian Champions League a record four times. In 2022, they also finished runners-up in the Club World Cup, falling 5-3 to Real Madrid in the Final. They are currently managed by former Argentinian international Ramón Díaz.
The most intriguing aspect of the potential Messi move is who Al-Hilal's rivals are. Al-Hilal has an inter-city rivalry with Al-Nassr, the side that Cristiano Ronaldo joined in 2022. Messi and Ronaldo have faced off 36 times in their club careers, most notably as domestic rivals during Ronaldo's stint with Real Madrid. If Messi were to join Al-Hilal, it would not only reignite their head-to-head rivalry but also make the Saudi league must-see soccer. While nothing has progressed beyond rumors at this time, the ESPN report may point to the next chapter of Lionel Messi's storied career.
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