Lionel Messi is set to overtake Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest-paid footballer in the history of football .
According to reports, Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal are set to make an irresistible offer to Lionel Messi that will make him earn £19 million more than his career rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Recall that after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo who was without a club after United sacked him in November due to an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, signed a record-breaking deal with Al-Nassr.
The deal reportedly earns the 38-year-old Portuguese legend a whopping £175-million-a-year which is the highest pay for a footballer in the history of the game.
Since he signed the deal, the Portuguese star has scored 8 goals and provided 2 assists in 7 Saudi Pro League matches for Al-Nassr.
Aside from that, his presence in Saudi Arabia has attracted huge attention to the club, the league, and the country at large.
Hence, Al-Hilal, the arch-rivals of Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, are seeking to reciprocate that by signing Lionel Messi who just won the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The 35-year-old Argentine footballer has until this summer before his contract with Paris Saint Germain expires. The French side have been trying to extend Messi’s contract but the negotiations are said not to be going smoothly.
On Wednesday, Daily Mail reported that Jorge, Messi’s father and agent, was spotted in the Saudi capital Riyadh which could imply that the negotiations between Messi and the Saudi side are advancing.
Lionel Messi’s father and agent Jorge spotted in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
The offer on the table for Messi is worth a whopping £194-million-a-year which is unprecedented in the history of football. The Saudi side are pushing to seal the deal ahead of this summer.
If Messi signs the deal, the age-long rivalry between the Argentine attacker and Ronaldo would be ignited. If that happens, Saudi Arabia would be the new Mecca of club football.