A senior Saudi Arabian sports official has revealed that the kingdom turned down an offer to sign Lionel Messi on a short-term deal ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner recently extended his contract with Inter Miami for another three years. However, with the club’s season ending in December and resuming in spring, discussions were reportedly held about a temporary move.
Abdullah Hammad, CEO of the Mahd Sports Academy, said on the Thmanyah podcast that Messi’s representatives reached out with a proposal for him to play in Saudi Arabia, but the government declined the offer.
“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,” Hammad revealed.
“The player wanted to remain in shape and prepare himself for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.”
He drew a comparison to David Beckham’s loan move from LA Galaxy to AC Milan in 2010, adding, “This happened with David Beckham when he was with Los Angeles Galaxy and went to AC Milan.”