Ronaldo electrified against Messi
Saudi mogul pays millions for VIP ticket
01/18/2023, 07:35 am
It is possibly the last duel between football giants Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The CR7 transfer saga reaches its bizarre climax at the showdown in Riyadh. The ticket is worth 2.5 million euros to a real estate mogul. There are some amenities for that.
A super VIP ticket for what may be the last duel between football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has been auctioned in Saudi Arabia for the equivalent of almost 2.5 million euros. Local real estate mogul Mushref al-Ghamdi outperformed all other interested parties with his bid for the ticket, which comes with numerous special rights. The proceeds of the auction will benefit charitable purposes.
Thanks to his auction success, the millionaire will enjoy a few amenities in Thursday’s deposit match between a selection from Ronaldo’s new club Al-Nassr and Saudi rivals Al-Hilal on the one hand, and world champion Messi and his club Paris St. 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.
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. Before that, Messi and PSG stop by Qatar, the home country of the club owners, as part of their annual PR tour. On the way back, the luxury ensemble, which also includes French superstar Kylian Mbappé, makes a stopover in Riyadh for the PR match.
Due to Ronaldo’s move to the Arab kingdom, further duels between the ex-European champion and Messi at a higher level seem very unlikely. During their engagements in Spain, Ronaldo and Messi had exchanged unforgettable blows with their then clubs Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Joint campaigns by the two former world footballers for Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, are quite conceivable. While Ronaldo is initially supposed to bring sporting attention to the country, Messi is already the official tourism ambassador for the Saudis.