A senior Saudi Arabia sports official has disclosed that they rejected an offer to sign Lionel Messi on a short-term basis ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Recall that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner recently signed a new three-year deal with Inter Miami, but their season comes to an end in December and doesn’t restart until the spring.
Reacting to the development, Abdullah Hammad, CEO of the Mahd Sports Academy, said during a podcast with Saudi platform Thmanyah, that Messi almost played in Saudi Arabia but the government rejected the proposal.
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“During the last Club World Cup, Messi’s team contacted me and offered for him to play in Saudi Arabia because the MLS will stop for nearly four months,” Abdullah Hammad, CEO of the Mahd Sports Academy, said during a podcast with Saudi platform Thmanyah.
“The player wanted to remain in shape and prepare himself for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.”
“This happened with David Beckham when he was with Los Angeles Galaxy and went to AC Milan (in 2010),” he added.
