Saudi Arabian organizers have rolled out a special ticket for an upcoming match that could see longtime rivals, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, go head-to-head in the Middle East.
top team in Ligue 1 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will face an all-star team of Al Nassr and Al Hilal players, in a friendly match in Riyadh on January 19. Ronaldo, who was introduced as an Al Nassr player earlier this month, may appear for the first time on Saudi Arabian soil in that match game.
The Portuguese superstar, who is expected to earn $200 million a year over a two-and-a-half year period (until June 2025) in Saudi Arabia, is currently serving a suspension from the FA.
Watch Messi, Mbappé, Neymar and Ronaldo together on the field has been a privilege. However, the organizers of the charity game are going a step further to make it a night to remember for fans with big pockets.
As noted by UD Almeria owner and chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), Turki Al-Sheikh, a special ticket ‘Beyond Imagination’ has gone on sale, which could entitle fans to a unforgettable night.
According to Khaleej Times, the special ticket will allow its holder to attend the opening ceremony, sit next to Al-Sheikh and meet Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar and Mbappe. In addition, they will be allowed to enter both dressing rooms, participate in the coronation ceremony, attend the gala dinner and take pictures with the winning team.
Bidding for the ticket started at 250,000 euros (985,000 riyals) but has now increased to 700,000 euros (2.7 million riyals) after 1.5 million requests were received. Bidding will remain open until January 17, 11:30 p.m. KSA. The proceedings will be directed to a charity called Ehsan.
Ronaldo’s Al Nassr coach Rudi Garcia unhappy with Messi’s time in friendly clash with PSG
Al Nassr coach Rudi Garcia questioned the timing of the upcoming friendly against PSG. Garcia admitted that the organizers should have thought more carefully about scheduling, as Al Nassr has a match in the Saudi Arabian Professional Football League three days after the friendly.
Al-Nassr head coach Rudi Garcia has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut in Saudi Arabia will take place in a friendly against PSG and Leo Messi.
🚨 Al-Nassr head coach Rudi Garcia has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut in Saudi Arabia will take place in a friendly match against PSG and Leo Messi.(Source: @Sports sky) https://t.co/s3zeUDM5bv
“As the coach of Al Nassr, I cannot be satisfied with this match. To develop, to see PSG, to see the greats of Paris, it is really a good thing. But we have a championship match three days later,” Garcia said (via GAMES).
He continued:
“In terms of the schedule, it could have been thought out better. But that’s not a big deal… We’re leading; we’re happy. It’s a tough championship to win, but we’re on it. intend to do.”
Ronaldo, who is currently serving a domestic suspension for smashing his phone off the pitch Everton fan’s hand in April 2022, possibly a friendly match, Garcia confirmed.
“It (his debut) will not take place with the Al Nassr jersey. It will be a mix of Al Hilal and Al Nassr.”
Messi’s arch rival will miss Saturday’s clash with Al Shabab (January 14) but will be available against Ettifaq eight days later.€
