Lionel Messi is being lined up to join the Saudi Pro League, and reunite with old rival Cristiano Ronaldo, when his time at Paris Saint-Germain is over.
Messi, who is 35 years old, didn’t appear to be slowing down when he won the World Cup for the first time last month.
The star from Argentina, who took home the Golden Ball for being the competition’s best player, even made the audacious claim that he wouldn’t be leaving the national team just yet.
It’s not surprising that rumors suggest he may stay at PSG past the end of his initial two-year deal, which is set to expire in the summer.
Messi has previously been linked with a move to MLS when his current contract expires, which would have seen him join Inter Miami and the incredible scenario of Phil Neville instructing the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner on how to play football could have occurred.
A return to Barcelona has also been discussed in the past, though it appears that the Spanish giants would need to pull a few more financial levers or sell half their squad to afford his wages.
According to ESPN, his playing career could end in the Middle East, with the Saudi Pro League planning to sign him to one of their teams.
According to the report, if he does leave Paris, the league wants him to come there and has told clubs that they are willing to help them sign the biggest names from European leagues, particularly Messi.
Al Nassr recently made Cristiano Ronaldo the highest-paid athlete in the world, when he left Manchester United and couldn’t find a European club to sign for.
And fans in Saudi managed to catch a glimpse of what life could be like with both of the world’s best players of a generation, and possibly ever, both playing there.
PSG took in a mid-season friendly against a Saudi Arabia Pro League All Star XI, with Ronaldo scoring twice on his first appearance since signing.
However, things haven’t gone as expected for the 37-year-old in his first two official games, with some really poor performances.