Fan Pays $2.6 Million for Golden Ticket to Match With Ronaldo, Messi
A Saudi Arabian real estate magnate will have true VIP access at a Thursday exhibition match in Riyadh.
If you thought Salt Bae's behind-the-scenes access at the World Cup final was unbelievable, Saudi Arabian real estate magnate Mushref Al-Ghamdi may have surpassed him.
According to Saudi Arabia, Al-Ghamdi won an auction for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at an upcoming exhibition for a game involving legendary forwards Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
For a price of $2.6 million, Al-Ghamdi will have the opportunity to meet Messi, Ronaldo, and forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe before an exhibition match in Riyadh on Thursday. According to CNN, he "will also attend a gala lunch and be able to enter both teams’ locker rooms, as well as be a part of the crowning ceremony and join a group photo with the winning team."
The friendly match will pit Paris-Saint Germain—whose lineup includes Messi, Neymar and Mbappe—against a Saudi Arabian all-star team made up of players from Al Hilal and Al Nassr.
Ronaldo signed with Al Nassr on Dec. 30 after an acrimonious departure from Manchester United. He will make approximately $214.5 million per year, the largest annual salary in soccer history.
Paris-Saint Germain has its own ties to the Persian Gulf region. The club has been owned by Qatar Sports Investments since 2011, and Messi has had a promotional deal with Saudi Arabia since May.