Lionel Messi reportedly rejected a €1 billion salary with Al-Hilal prior to him making the move to MLS side Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi is arguably the best talent the footballing world has ever been witness to. The Argentine is currently recovering from a serious ankle injury suffered in the final of the Copa America, and is set to make a return ‘soon’. The player has already started training alone, although Inter Miami boss Tata Martino has refused to name a date of return.
Recently, reports stating that the player turned down a €1 billion salary offered by Al-Hilal has fans in disbelief. Messi currently plies his trade with MLS side Inter Miami. The club owned by David Beckham employs the Argentine on an annual salary of more than $20 million.
As revealed by FOX Sports Argentina, the 37-year-old was offered a mammoth contract by the Saudi Pro League side which would have seen him earn around €15-€20 million weekly. Al-Hilal employs Brazilian forward and former Barcelona star Neymar Jr. on a $219 million annual salary. The forward however, has only played a total of five games for the club after suffering a serious knee injury back in October 2023.
As for Messi, the Argentine opted to sign for the MLS outfit after being crowned as champion of the world in Qatar. He is under contract until the end of the 2025 season with the Herons.
Fans react to Lionel Messi turning down contract worth €1 billion
Lionel Messi is nowhere close to being at the top in the list of highest earners in professional football at the moment. The Argentine earns much lesser in comparison to his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. The 39-year-old earns more than £173 million per year, with the figure only bound to go up after sponsorship deals and endorsements.
A fan commented that Messi not playing for money in the Saudi Pro League speaks volumes about him as a person. Another supporter pointed out that Messi values his family and friends more than cashing out a pay cheque in the final years of his career. Fans also added that the World Cup champion has the right to choose wherever he wants to spend the final years of his career at.
Both the Saudi Pro League and the MLS have seen an improvement in terms of quality and viewership since Ronaldo and Messi respectively signed for their clubs. It still remains up for debate as to which League is ‘better’ and which player has made the ‘right’ decision. As things stand, Miami have qualified for the play-offs while Al-Nassr recently lost the Saudi Super Cup final to Al-Hilal.
