Saudi Arabia has made a huge offer to Cristiano Ronaldo — but he’ll have to do more than just play soccer.
The country wants one of the world’s most popular athletes to boost its pitch for the 2030 World Cup.
- Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr offered Ronaldo a reported three-year contract worth an annual $212.9 million after he and Manchester United mutually agreed to part ways.
- The star is currently in Dubai with plans to travel to Saudi Arabia to sign the deal, according to Spanish publication Marca.
- The deal includes a provision that Ronaldo would play an ambassador role for Saudi Arabia in its World Cup bid.
Well, This is Awkward
Should Ronaldo accept the offer, it would put him in the awkward position of working to thwart his home country: Portugal is teaming up with Spain and Ukraine on a 2030 World Cup bid.
Argentinian legend Lionel Messi has supported his country’s joint 2030 bid with Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile, but also promotes tourism to Saudi Arabia in a deal believed to be worth around $30 million per year.
The two soccer stars are the respective highest- and third-highest-paid athletes in the world this year, per Forbes, with Messi pocketing $130 million and Ronaldo $115 million. Both earn an estimated $55 million above their playing contracts.
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