In Argentina’s disappointing loss against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Lionel Messi, the Saudi Arabian ambassador, faced the unpleasant experience of being booed by the fans of the country he represents. The match, which took place in Qatar as part of the group stage of the World Cup, witnessed a shocking upset as Argentina was defeated by a score of 2-1. Initially, Messi had given his team the lead by scoring from a penalty kick. However, in the first half, Argentina saw three goals being disallowed due to offside, including two by Lautaro Martinez and one by Messi himself. In a remarkable turn of events, Saudi Arabia made a stunning comeback in the second half, securing a memorable victory with goals from Saleh Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari. Unfortunately, Messi was far from his best during the match and had to endure the disapproval of Saudi Arabia’s fans, who expressed their dissatisfaction by booing him. It is worth noting that Messi had previously signed a lucrative £25m per year deal with the kingdom to promote their interests, as reported by The Athletic in May of this year.
Despite his role as an ambassador for Saudi Arabia, Lionel Messi was met with disapproving jeers from the fans in the Arab country.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia celebrated a remarkable victory over Argentina in the World Cup, leaving the latter feeling even more embarrassed. Adding insult to injury, The Athletic recently reported that Lionel Messi, the Argentinian star, could potentially become the focus of a fierce competition between his homeland and Saudi Arabia, as they both vie to host the 2030 World Cup. While the current World Cup is in full swing in Qatar, and the 2026 edition is scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, bidding for the 2030 event opened earlier this year. At present, only one bid has been confirmed from Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine, but it is highly likely that two rival proposals will emerge in the near future. One proposal is a collaboration between Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile, all South American nations, while the other includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Greece. The decision on who will host the 2030 World Cup will be announced in 2024, considering that the tournament will expand to include 48 teams starting from the 2026 edition.
In an astonishing turn of events at the World Cup, they managed to overcome an initial score of 1-0 against them and emerged victorious with a final score of 2-1. This stunning comeback will be remembered as one of the most remarkable upsets in the history of the tournament.
Messi gave Lionel Scaloni’s team the advantage by converting a penalty to take the lead.
Messi faced further embarrassment as enthusiastic Saudi Arabian fans gave him a chilly reception. The joint bid from South American countries, including Argentina and Uruguay, was initially disclosed in 2017 during a match between the two nations. Messi and his former Barcelona teammate Suarez posed together before the game, wearing shirts that represented their respective countries and symbolized their solidarity in the bid for the World Cup. As two of the most celebrated South American footballers, it was expected that they would play significant roles in this potential bid.
Fernando Marin, the coordinator of the South American efforts, expressed confidence in their bid to host the tournament in eight years’ time. He emphasized the region’s strong influence in producing talent that shines on the global stage. Moreover, Marin highlighted the significance of the proposed location, as it would coincide with the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup held in Uruguay in 1930.
Messi and Luis Suarez are anticipated to play a crucial role in the bid for the 2030 World Cup in South America. A while back, Marin discussed the involvement of one of the greatest footballers of all time in the bid. He expressed to AFP, “Messi will be part of this initiative, and Suarez will surely join as well. We explained our goals to Messi, and he believes they are achievable. He displayed tremendous enthusiasm in assisting us and will likely be the face of the World Cup.”
However, doubts arose in May 2022 when Messi signed a reportedly lucrative £25 million yearly deal to promote Saudi Arabia. Although the agreement primarily focused on boosting tourism in the kingdom, it is tied to the country’s national objective known as ‘Vision 2030’. The Saudi government describes Vision 2030 as a transformative economic and social reform plan aimed at global engagement.
Hosting the 2030 World Cup, in collaboration with Greece and Egypt, is reportedly a vital component of this vision. The promotion of tourism in Saudi Arabia aligns with the overall strategy implemented by the kingdom and contributes significantly to its objectives.
Back in May, Messi secured a lucrative contract worth a staggering £25 million annually to endorse Saudi Arabia.
In May, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Messi was initially appointed as a tourism representative for the country. Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the sports industry has been steadily growing in recent years. This can be observed with the takeover of Newcastle by the state’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, the establishment of the LIV Golf breakaway tour, as well as the hosting of Formula 1 races and heavyweight boxing matches in the kingdom. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was captured alongside Fifa President Gianni Infantino during the opening match of the World Cup between Qatar and Ecuador, sparking hopes of a successful bid for the 2030 World Cup. The promotion of Messi as a tourism ambassador took place during his visit to Jeddah, with Saudi minister of tourism Ahmed al-Khateeb expressing enthusiasm for future collaborations. Furthermore, the Visit Saudi website now dedicates a page solely to Messi.
At the inauguration match of the World Cup between Qatar and Ecuador, an interesting snapshot captured the presence of FIFA president Gianni Infantino alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
Messi’s connections also extend to a prominent Saudi individual named Turki Al-Sheikh, who is said to be a close advisor to Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. Al-Sheikh holds the position of chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, with the responsibility of fostering social and economic development in Saudi Arabia. Messi has reached out to Al-Sheikh on social media and publicly wished him a happy birthday. When asked about Messi’s involvement in the South American bid for the 2030 edition, Marin, a source in The Athletic, expressed confidence in Messi’s influence both on and off the field, emphasizing his unique power and status as a brand for football as a whole. While it remains unclear how extensively Messi will be involved in a potential Saudi bid for 2030, his associations could potentially align him with a rival bid to his home country, Argentina, as he supports the promotion of Saudi Arabia and its tourism.
