During Argentina’s first match against Saudi Arabia in the Group C opening clash, the Saudi Arabian ambassador and football legend Lionel Messi was booed by fans of the country he represents. Despite Messi giving his team a lead from the spot, Argentina suffered an embarrassing 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in Qatar. The game saw some of the greatest upsets in World Cup history as Argentina had three goals ruled out for offside in the first half. Two of Lautaro Martinez’s strikes and one Messi finish were disallowed. In the second half, Saudi Arabia made a stunning comeback with goals from Saleh Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari to secure a memorable win. Although Messi signed a lucrative £25m deal in May of this year to promote the kingdom, he was far from his best and faced boos from Saudi Arabia fans during the game.
Despite serving as an ambassador for Saudi Arabia, Lionel Messi was met with boos from the country’s fans.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia achieved an unforgettable victory against Argentina in the World Cup held in Qatar. Adding to the embarrassment of Argentina, one of its ambassadors was booed by the audience. This came after a report in The Athletic suggested that there could be a tussle between Argentina and Saudi Arabia for the 2030 World Cup, with Messi possibly at the center of it. Bidding for the 2030 edition began this year, with only Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine confirming their bid so far. However, it is anticipated that two rival proposals may emerge soon: one from a South American partnership between Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile, and the other from a coalition of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Greece. These joint bids are a response to the decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from the 2026 edition onwards, and the final decision on the host for the 2030 edition will be announced in 2024.
In a remarkable upset at the World Cup, they managed to come from behind and secure a 2-1 victory after initially trailing by a score of 1-0. This stunning turn of events ranks among the most memorable moments in the tournament’s history.
Lionel Messi had previously given Lionel Scaloni’s team the advantage by scoring from a penalty kick.
Messi was left feeling embarrassed by Saudi Arabian fans who gave him a cold reception, despite his previous display of solidarity with the South American nations in their bid to host the World Cup in 2030. The bid, which was first revealed in 2017, saw Messi and former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez don the shirts of Argentina and Uruguay respectively as a show of support. As two of the most iconic South American footballers, it was expected that they would play a major role in the bid. Co-ordinator Fernando Marin expressed confidence in the strength of the bid, citing the region’s talent and the significance of the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930.
It is anticipated that Messi and Luis Suarez will play a crucial role in the South American bid for the 2030 World Cup. Marin had previously revealed Messi’s involvement in the bid, stating that he was enthusiastic about the initiative and would be a prominent figurehead for the World Cup. However, concerns were raised when Messi signed a £25 million deal to promote Saudi Arabia in May 2022. While this agreement focused on promoting tourism in the country, it is aligned with the national goal of Vision 2030, an economic and social reform plan that includes hosting the 2030 World Cup in partnership with Greece and Egypt. By promoting tourism, the Saudi government hopes to support this overall strategy.
In May this year, there were reports that Messi had inked a deal worth £25 million annually to endorse Saudi Arabia.
In May, Messi was appointed as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia. The country has been increasing its involvement in sports, with events such as Formula 1 races, heavyweight boxing matches, and the LIV Golf breakaway tour, as well as the state’s sovereign wealth fund PIF taking over at Newcastle. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was seen talking to Fifa President Gianni Infantino at the G20 summit and sitting next to him at the opening match of the World Cup between Qatar and Ecuador, raising hopes for a successful 2030 World Cup bid. The Saudi minister of tourism tweeted that Messi’s visit was not his first and would not be his last, and now there is a specific Messi page on the Visit Saudi website.
In a photo captured at the start of the World Cup between Ecuador and Qatar, FIFA’s leader Gianni Infantino can be seen standing alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
Turki Al-Sheikh, a Saudi figure reportedly close to Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, has links to PSG star Lionel Messi. Al-Sheikh serves as the chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority and is responsible for promoting economic and social growth in Saudi Arabia. Messi has exchanged messages with Al-Sheikh on social media and even publicly wished him a happy birthday. Despite potential involvement in a Saudi bid for the 2030 edition, Messi’s agent, Marin, believes he will remain a key figure in the South American bid and considers Messi a brand for all of football. While it is uncertain how involved he will be in a potential Saudi bid, Messi’s promotion of the country and tourism could potentially link him to a rival bid to his home nation.
