Rumor has it that Al-Hilal has a contract ready for Lionel Messi that would see him overtake Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest paid player in the world.
Portuguese superstar Ronaldo has left for Saudi Arabia following his resignation from Manchester United in November 2022, and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been awarded a contract worth around £173 million ($214 million) a year. That deal puts the 38-year-old comfortably at the top of the charts when it comes to the most lucrative salaries.
However, Messi could be in a position to outshine his arch-rival, with some big decisions about to be made over his future at club level. As it is now, the captain of world champions Argentina, who has seven Ballon d’Ors to his name, is terminating his contract with Paris Saint-Germain and heading for a free agent.
According to L’Equipe, the winner of the 2022 World Cup will have to reduce his wage demands to negotiate an extension in France, and financial fair play rules must be taken into account. According to the French press, Messi is reluctant to cut his €3.375m (£3m) monthly salary, especially as he received a proposal from the Middle East that would make him the highest-earning player ever.
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WHAT’S NEXT? Al-Hilal are currently under a transfer ban but are confident they can add new signings to their ranks this summer and prepare to make history.
Source: Goal