Copyright: AP
Fans at the Cristiano Ronaldo launch on January 3, 2023 in Riyadh. A football auction there has now brought in a whopping 2.5 million euros.
What is a lot of money for many fans, clubs and football officials is enough for much less in the spheres of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. This is now also proven by a curious auction.
2.5 million euros is a hefty sum even in the modern football world – many a bargain transfer has gone through for significantly less money. In the glittering world of Saudi Arabia, the whopping amount is actually a better tip.
The consideration that the local real estate mogul Mushref al-Ghamdi is facing on Thursday (January 19, 2023) after winning a million-dollar auction is correspondingly poor. After all, the proceeds of the auction will benefit charitable purposes.
Saudi Arabia: Million auction for Ronaldo duel against Messi
Al-Ghamdi will receive a “super VIP ticket” for what may be the last duel between football icons Cristiano Ronaldo (37) and Lionel Messi (35), which will take place on Thursday in Ronaldo’s new sporting home country of Saudi Arabia.
The millionaire is said to enjoy some perks in the deposit match between a selection from Ronaldo’s new club Al-Nassr and Saudi rivals Al-Hilal against world champion Messi and his club Paris Saint-Germain.
This gives al-Ghamdi the opportunity to take photos with both superstars and other players, as well as access to the dressing rooms in the stadium’s catacombs. Whether that is ultimately worth the hefty price premium may not play a decisive role for the wealthy real estate millionaire.
Last duel between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Despite the fact that it is a friendly game, the pairing still has its appeal: the encounter is planned as Ronaldo’s debut in his new adopted country. The Portuguese veteran, who is said to collect 200 million euros a year for a contract until 2025, is said to make his competitive debut for Al-Nassr in the championship on Sunday.
Messi and PSG travel first to Qatar, the home country of the club owners, on Wednesday (18 January). On the way back, the luxury ensemble, which also includes French superstar Kylian Mbappé (24), makes a stopover in Riyadh for the PR match.
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Due to Ronaldo’s move to the Arab kingdom, further duels between the ex-European champion and Messi at a higher level in the current constellation seem very unlikely. During their engagements in Spain, Ronaldo and Messi had exchanged unforgettable blows with their then clubs Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
Recently, however, there had also been rumors that Al-Hilal, the Ronaldo club’s fiercest rival, would follow suit after the change coup and also want to lure Messi to Saudi Arabia after his contract with PSG expired in the summer. There is still no agreement with the top French club about the intended extension of the employment relationship that has existed since 2021.
Financiers could then possibly get parts of the rumored annual salary of 300 million euros with one or the other action of a “super VIP ticket” (bc / sid)
