The Saudi Arabian ambassador and renowned football player, Lionel Messi, faced a rather humiliating situation during Argentina’s recent defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia. The unexpected upset occurred during the Group C opening match of the World Cup held in Qatar. Despite Messi initially giving Argentina the lead with a penalty kick, their first half was marred by three disallowed goals due to offside, including two by Lautaro Martinez and one by Messi himself. However, Saudi Arabia managed an impressive comeback in the second half, securing a memorable 2-1 victory with goals from Saleh Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari.
In addition to the defeat, Messi also endured the disappointment of being jeered by the Saudi Arabia fans in attendance. It is worth mentioning that Messi had recently signed a lucrative agreement, reportedly worth £25 million per year, to promote the Saudi Arabian kingdom in May of this year, according to The Athletic. Unfortunately, Messi’s performance on the pitch did not live up to his usual standards, which resulted in him being targeted by frustrated Saudi Arabian supporters during the match.
In an unexpected turn of events, Lionel Messi, the revered football icon, faced an unexpected reception from Saudi Arabia fans. Despite his role as an ambassador for the Arab state, he experienced boos and jeers from the crowd.
Saudi Arabia celebrated a historic victory over Argentina in the World Cup held in Qatar, adding insult to injury for one of Argentina’s ambassadors. The jeering from the crowd came in response to reports that Messi may be at the center of a rivalry between Argentina and Saudi Arabia for hosting the 2030 World Cup. While the current World Cup is taking place in Qatar and the 2026 edition is set for the United States, Canada, and Mexico, bidding for the 2030 tournament began earlier this year. Currently, only one bid from Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine has been confirmed, but it is expected that two other proposals will be announced shortly. One of these proposals includes a collaboration between Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile, while the other features a bid from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Greece. The inclusion of multiple countries is due to the expansion of the World Cup to accommodate 48 teams, starting from the 2026 edition. The decision on the host for the 2030 World Cup will be made in 2024.
In a remarkable turn of events at the World Cup, they displayed incredible resilience by bouncing back from a 1-0 deficit to ultimately secure a thrilling 2-1 victory. This astonishing comeback stands as one of the most unforgettable upsets witnessed in the history of this esteemed tournament.
Messi had previously given Lionel Scaloni’s team an advantage by successfully converting a penalty kick.
Messi faced an awkward situation as Saudi Arabian fans welcomed him with disdain, adding to his embarrassment. The joint bid from South American nations was initially brought to light in 2017 during a match between Argentina and Uruguay. Prior to kick-off, Messi and his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez posed together, with Suarez donning a Uruguay jersey labeled with the number 20, and Messi sporting an Argentina jersey with the number 30. This act signified the solidarity between the two nations in their pursuit of hosting the World Cup. Given the significant influence and reputation of both players, it was anticipated that they would play integral roles in this joint bid. Fernando Marin, the coordinator of the South American bid, expressed his confidence in their campaign to host the tournament in 2030, stating that it is a robust bid due to the region’s abundant talent that has made an impact worldwide. Moreover, hosting the World Cup in Uruguay in 2030, which marks the 100th anniversary of the first-ever World Cup held in the same country in 1930, would be a fitting and meaningful commemoration.
Messi and Luis Suarez are expected to play a crucial role in the bid for the 2030 World Cup for South America. Marin, in 2018, expressed his confidence in Messi’s involvement in the initiative, stating that Messi and Suarez were enthusiastic about the bid and that Messi would be the face of the World Cup. However, concerns arose in May 2022 when Messi signed a £25 million per year agreement to promote tourism in Saudi Arabia. Although the agreement was focused on promoting tourism, it aligned with Saudi Arabia’s national objective, known as Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country economically and socially. Hosting the 2030 World Cup is reportedly a significant part of this vision, with Greece and Egypt also playing a role. By promoting tourism, the country aims to support its overall strategy for achieving Vision 2030.
In May of this year, Messi secured a lucrative agreement, estimated at £25 million annually, to serve as a brand ambassador for Saudi Arabia.
In May, when he visited Jeddah, Messi was initially appointed as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia. The country’s involvement in sports has been steadily growing, evident through various endeavors such as the PIF’s takeover at Newcastle, the LIV Golf breakaway tour, hosting Formula 1 races, and heavyweight boxing matches. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been actively engaging with sports activities, seen sitting alongside Fifa President Gianni Infantino at the World Cup opening match and having discussions at the G20 summit, fostering hopes for their bid to host the 2030 World Cup. Reflecting this partnership, Messi’s association with Saudi Arabia as a tourism ambassador is showcased on the Visit Saudi website.
At the opening match of the World Cup between Qatar and Ecuador, a photo captured the presence of FIFA president Gianni Infantino standing alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
Messi also has connections to a prominent Saudi individual known as Turki Al-Sheikh, who reportedly advises Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and serves as the chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. Al-Sheikh’s role involves fostering social and economic development in Saudi Arabia. Messi has communicated with Al-Sheikh through social media and publicly wished him a happy birthday. In an interview with The Athletic, Marin expressed confidence in Messi’s importance to South America’s bid for hosting the 2030 event, emphasizing Messi’s significant influence both on and off the field. Although it is uncertain to what extent Messi will be involved in a potential Saudi bid, his association with the country and his potential links to a competing bid to his home nation suggest a possibility of his promotion of the country and tourism.
