According to German media reports, Lionel Messi has once again become the center of attention in Middle Eastern football.
The chairman of Saudi powerhouse Al-Ittihad, Anmar Al-Haili, publicly stated that he has long been keen on signing the Argentine superstar and is willing to offer a contract unprecedented in the history of professional sports.
Al-Haili made it clear that money is not an obstacle. If Messi were to agree, he could decide his own annual salary and contract duration, and even establish a relationship similar to a “lifetime contract.” The chairman was quoted as saying, “Money means nothing to me. What I want is the greatest player in history, Messi.”
A €1.4 Billion Annual Salary Revealed, Shattering All Records
In fact, this was not Al-Ittihad’s first attempt to sign Messi. When Messi’s relationship with Paris Saint-Germain deteriorated, and he was searching for a new club, the Saudi side had already extended an offer.
German media reported that Al-Ittihad had prepared an astonishing proposal valued at €1.4 billion per year, widely regarded as the most extravagant contract offer not only in football history but in all of professional sports.
For comparison, Al-Ittihad reportedly offered Son Heung-min an annual salary of approximately €30 million in the summer of 2023, which was already considered elite-level pay. Messi’s proposed salary, however, was roughly 47 times higher, redefining global perceptions of Saudi spending power.
Comparing Ronaldo and MLS: Messi Could Have Earned Far More
Historically, the highest annual salary in football belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo, who is estimated to earn around €250 million per year at Al Nassr.
Had Messi accepted Al-Ittihad’s offer, his salary would have been approximately 5.6 times higher than Ronaldo’s, representing an unprecedented financial gap at the top of the sport.
Family Comes First: Why Messi Said No
Despite the staggering figures, Messi was ultimately unmoved by the numbers. Media reports suggest that after failing to secure a return to Barcelona, Messi wanted to leave Europe altogether and prioritize a lifestyle more suitable for his family.
As a result, he rejected the astronomical Saudi offer and chose to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
It is reported that Messi earns around $20 million per year in the MLS, the highest salary in the league, but that is negligible compared to the €1.4 billion Saudi proposal.
A Choice Beyond Money
Once again, Messi’s decision proved that he is not driven solely by money or records. In the latter stages of his career, he prioritized family, quality of life, and inner balance, leaving a defining case study in football history on values, priorities, and personal choice.
