Tag: Saudi Pro League

Here’s why Saudi Arabia rejected Messi’s offer to play in Pro League

Saudi Arabia declined an offer to sign Lionel Messi for a short-term stint in the Saudi Pro League before next year’s World Cup, according to a senior sports official.

“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,” Abdullah Hammad, CEO of the Mahd Sports Academy, said during a podcast with Saudi platform Thmanyah.

“The player wanted to remain in shape and prepare himself for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.”

“This happened with David Beckham when he was with Los Angeles Galaxy and went to AC Milan (in 2010),” he added.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi moved to Inter Miami in 2023, following speculation about a potential switch to Saudi Arabia.

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That followed a two-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain, the club he joined in 2021 after ending his long association with Barcelona.

Hammad explained that he relayed the offer to the minister of sports, who rejected it. “The minister made it clear that the Saudi league would not serve as a preparation platform for other tournaments,” he said.

In response to a question about whether Saudi Arabia had rejected Messi, he replied: “That’s true.”

Since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr after the last World Cup, the Saudi league has attracted numerous stars from major European clubs, including Neymar and Karim Benzema, while the kingdom has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup.

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Ronaldo breaks Saudi Pro League scoring record

Cristiano Ronaldo broke the record for the most goals in a Saudi Pro League season when he struck for the 34th and 35th time in Al Nassr’s final game of the campaign.

“I don’t follow the records, the records follow me,” the 39-year-old Portuguese forward tweeted afterwards.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star struck in first-half stoppage time and again in the 69th minute with a header as Al Nassr defeated Al Ittihad 4-2 at home on Monday.

The previous record for most goals in a single season was the 34 scored by the Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah in 2018-19.

Al Nassr were already assured of a second-placed finish, coming a distant 14 points behind champions Al Hilal.

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Riyadh-based Al Nassr in December 2022, the start of an influx of overseas players to the Saudi league on lucrative contracts.

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Notably, the star Portuguese forward ended the year 2023 as the leading goal-scorer, leaving behind the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the highest goal scorer of 2023 during his side Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League fixture against Al-Ittihad on December 26.

Ronaldo scored a decisive brace in his side’s 5-2 victory over Al-Ittihad which also propelled him to the top of the goal-scoring charts.

Ronaldo converted two crucial penalties in the game, lifting his tally to 53 goals and 15 assists in 58 matches.

This achievement took Cristiano Ronaldo past the 52 goals scored by Harry Kane (57 matches) and Kylian Mbappe (53 matches) while playing for Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively.

Ronaldo, who led Portugal to victory at the 2016 Euros, has been selected for the squad for this year’s edition in Germany next month — his 11th international tournament.

He is the most capped player in men’s international football with 206 appearances and has scored a record 128 goals.

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WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo performs Sujud after scoring match-winner for Al Nassr

RIYADH: Star player Cristiano Ronaldo has been making headlines due to his unexpected celebration after scoring a match-winner for Al-Nassr as he bowed for a Sujud followed by his trademark celebration.

Cristiano Ronaldo performed a Sujud, the act of low bowing or prostration to Allah facing the qiblah (direction of the Kabba at Mecca).

The star footballer then followed it up with his trademark “Siiuuu” celebration.

 

The Portuguese great struck the match-winner in the 59th minute as Al Nassr fought back from 0-2 down to keep their title hopes alive in the Saudi Pro League.

The Riyadh derby was a crucial encounter for the second-placed Al Nassr as a defeat would mean that the leader Al-Ittihad, which beat Al-Batin 1-0 earlier, would be crowned the champions of the Saudi Pro League with two games to spare.

Cristian Guanca opened the scoring for Al-Shabab from the penalty spot in the 24th minute after Luiz Gustavo was booked for handball.

Guanca then struck again to double their lead in the 40th minute but the advantage was shortlived as Talisca struck to reduce the deficit for Al Nassr.

Abdulrahman Ghareeb then equalised in the 51st minute after being left unmarked in the box and slotting home from close range.

Cristiano Ronaldo put Al Nassr ahead just before the hour mark, racing past two defenders and curling a shot into the top corner from the outside of the area.

It is worth mentioning here that it was Ronaldo’s 14th goal for Al Nassr since joining the club after FIFA World Cup.

READ: Asian federation foresees Saudi bid for 2030 or 2034 World Cup

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