- Lionel Messi, the world’s second highest-paid athlete, has signed a contract with the Saudi Tourism Authority to promote the Kingdom, as reported by Forbes.
- Under the terms of the deal, Messi is required to take an annual vacation to Saudi Arabia, among other obligations.
Lionel Messi, one of the highest-paid athletes globally, has entered into a lucrative partnership with the Saudi Arabian tourism authority, according to a report by The New York Times.
Detailed contract specifics revealed by the Times indicate that the Argentine soccer player could earn up to $25 million over a three-year period to serve as an ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s thriving tourism sector.
As part of the agreement, Messi is required to showcase his visits to Saudi Arabia on his social media platforms, where he currently boasts 472 million Instagram followers. Some of his earliest Instagram posts from the country date back to May 2022.
In an Instagram post on October 7, 2022, marked as a paid partnership with Visit Saudi, Messi wrote, “If you are coming to watch the World Cup and you want to have an authentic Arabian experience, don’t miss out on everything Saudi is offering!”
According to the Times report, Messi is contractually prohibited from making any statements that may tarnish Saudi Arabia’s image. This stipulation carries significant weight, considering the country’s well-known human rights violations, as documented by Business Insider.
More recently, the Saudi government has faced accusations of attempting to enhance its reputation through its sponsorship of the LIV Golf tournament. In a surprise announcement on June 6, LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, former rivals, revealed a merger.
A document reviewed by the Times outlines the compensation Messi will receive for fulfilling each contractual obligation, including approximately $2 million for a five-day family vacation in the country or two three-day vacations per year. The Saudi government will cover travel expenses for Messi and up to 20 family members and friends.
Additionally, Messi is expected to promote Saudi Arabia on his social media accounts, participate in the country’s tourism campaign, and engage in charitable work and guest appearances. Each obligation carries a payout of approximately $2 million. It remains unclear whether the document reviewed by the Times reflects the most up-to-date terms of Messi’s contract.
This lucrative arrangement underscores Saudi Arabia’s continued interest in the renowned soccer star, who stands as the world’s second highest-paid athlete after Cristiano Ronaldo, as per Forbes.
According to The Athletic, Messi was offered a staggering $429 million annual salary to join Saudi Arabia’s soccer club Al Hilal. However, he ultimately decided to join the Major League Soccer (MLS) team Inter Miami in Florida, which was co-founded by David Beckham.
While the details of Messi’s MLS offer are unknown, The Athletic reported that he could benefit from MLS’s $2.5 billion agreement with Apple to stream the league’s matches over the next ten years.
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