Topline
Soccer legend Lionel Messi plans to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, multiple outlets reported Wednesday, just one day after a two-week suspension for an unauthorized promotional trip to Saudi Arabia, amid reports the world’s second-highest-paid athlete is considering a massive contract to play in the Saudi Pro League this summer.
Lionel Messi reportedly plans to leave Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons with the club. Getty Images
Key Facts
Messi’s father Jorge Messi informed Paris Saint-Germain about the 35-year-old star’s decision, ending his two-year stint in Paris, the BBC reported. The report comes one day after Messi, a 2022 World Cup champion with Argentina, was suspended without pay for two weeks by Paris Saint-Germain for making a promotional trip to Saudi Arabia without the team’s consent, after the team’s 3-1 loss to FC Lorient. Messi will reportedly turn down a club option for a third year with Paris Saint-Germain, after signing a whopping $104 million contract with the French club in 2021, and is reportedly in talks with the Saudi government for a $400 million annual contract to play in the Saudi Pro League, which would be the biggest sports contract of all time—nearly doubling longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s $200 million deal to play in Saudi Arabia through 2025, The Telegraph reported.
Key Background
Speculation has emerged in recent months that Messi has been considering leaving PSG, with reports indicating Saudi club Al-Hilal sent him an offer as high as $438 million per year, though soccer markets analyst Fabrizio Romano reported Messi’s “absolute priority” is to stay in Europe. Spanish radio station Onda Cero later reported Messi plans to join Al-Hilal after a year in Barcelona, where he played between 2004 and 2021 (Messi has not received an offer from Barcelona, the BBC reported). There is also speculation that Messi, considered one of the best players of all time, could get an offer to join the MLS club Inter Miami.
Forbes Valuation
We estimate Messi has earned $130 million over the last year, including his on-field contract and multi-million-dollar off-field advertising deals, including a $20 million deal with blockchain platform Socios, according to Forbes’ list of the top 10 highest-paid athletes.
Further Reading
Lionel Messi Suspended 2 Weeks For Visiting Saudi Arabia Without Team’s Permission (Forbes)
Lionel Messi: Argentina forward to leave Paris St-Germain at end of season (BBC)