- May 02, 2026
Staff Reporter | PNN:
Ahead of the World Cup, Lionel Messi had proposed a short-term stint in the Saudi Pro League to maintain his fitness. However, the Saudi Ministry of Sports rejected the proposal.
A top Saudi football official told AFP that Messi’s agent had contacted the Saudi Pro League authorities, but the Ministry of Sports declined the request.
The main purpose of Messi’s proposal was to stay match-fit ahead of the World Cup. The MLS regular season ends in October and the new season begins in February. During this break, Messi wanted to play in Saudi Arabia to maintain his fitness.
Abdullah Hammad, CEO of Mahd Sports Academy, said in a podcast, “Inter Miami had communicated that Messi wanted to play in the Saudi League during the four-month break to stay fit.” However, the Saudi Sports Minister explicitly stated, “The Saudi League cannot be used as a preparation stage for any other tournament.”
Hammad also mentioned that before the 2010 World Cup, David Beckham had played a short-term stint at AC Milan to maintain his fitness. Messi had a similar proposal, but the Saudi government did not approve it.
After spending two decades at Barcelona, Messi joined PSG in 2021. Following two years at PSG, the environment became difficult for him. Instead of pursuing the Saudi offer, Messi moved to the United States, where he achieved remarkable success with Inter Miami, winning the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield.
The news illustrates that although Messi explored various options to prepare for the World Cup, his dream of playing in the Saudi Pro League did not materialize.
