sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
A Saudi businessman purchases 'world's most expensive ticket' to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's 'Last Dance'

Home> Football

Updated 09:38 18 Jan 2023 GMTPublished 12:45 17 Jan 2023 GMT

A Saudi businessman purchases 'world's most expensive ticket' to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's 'Last Dance'

The 'Ultimate Pass' includes meeting both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the Riyadh XI vs PSG exhibition game.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

A Saudi Arabian businessman purchased the "world's most expensive ticket" for what could be the final on-pitch meeting.

The pair of footballing titans, who have dominated the game for the best part of 15 years and claimed 12 Ballon d'Ors between them, are slated to meet for one last dance on Thursday.

Ronaldo has left Europe for Saudi Arabia after signing an eye-watering £175 million per season deal with Al Nassr.

Advert

A two-match worldwide ban and a need to meet the overseas player quota has delayed his debut, but Ronaldo's first game over in the Middle East will be an exhibition contest against Paris Saint-Germain.

He will captain a 'Riyadh XI' made up of Al Nassr and Al Hilal against the Ligue One Champions at the King Fahd International Stadium.

It's sure to be a sell-out at the 68,000 capacity stadium, with a reported two million online ticket sales coming in for the showpiece.

However, the Khaleej Times reports that a special 'Beyond Imagination' ticket went to auction

The golden pass includes watching the game sat next Turki Al Sheikh, Chairman of General Entertainment Authority, and the man who announced Ronaldo would be the skipper for the historic clash.

Image: Alamy
Image: Alamy

They also receive access to the winner's ceremony and partake in the group photo at the end of the game, as well as the chance to meet the two legendary players by visiting both dressing rooms.

A gala lunch is also involved but of course given what's in store, it is not going to be a cheap deal.

Mushref Al-Ghamdi, the general manager of real estate group AqarOne, emerged victorious after bidding 10 million riyals (£2.18 million).

“Congratulations, you deserve it, and may God reward you with good,” Sheikh said as he announced Al-Ghamdi as the winner.

The auction closed on Tuesday at 8:30pm and the proceeds will go the national charity campaign referred to as 'Ehsan'.

Ronaldo and Messi, now 37 and 35 respectively, have not lined up against one another since a 3-0 win for Juventus against Barcelona at an empty Nou Camp in 2020.

Image: Alamy
Image: Alamy

They did, however, link up for a viral photoshoot with Louis Vuitton prior to the World Cup.

A stunning £90 million all-star game involving the pair at Wembley Stadium was mooted in 2017 but ultimately never materialised.

Featured Image Credit: FootyRenders & King Fahd Stadium

Topics: Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr, Paris Saint-Germain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

X

@joshlawless_

Recommended reads

Ranking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGettyBarry Hearn sends message to Ronnie O'Sullivan over snooker future as Crucible prediction madeGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • Getty
    an hour ago

    Why Liverpool fans refused to wave Anfield flags vs Fulham

    The Kop looked very different ahead of the Premier League clash.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    The Premier League title could be decided on goal difference if plausible scenario plays out

    Arsenal dropped points in the title race ahead of Manchester City's clash against Chelsea on Sunday.

    Football
  • Getty
    3 hours ago

    Viktor Gyokeres called out for 'shameless' excuse following Bournemouth defeat

    Despite scoring a penalty, the Swede could not help his side avoid defeat against the Cherries.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    5 hours ago

    Mikel Arteta's worrying gesture to Arsenal fans in moment missed by TNT cameras

    The Arsenal boss clearly wasn't happy during the Premier League clash with Bournemouth.

    Football
  • Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi team up in advert for second time in history
  • Cristiano Ronaldo Demands Al Nassr Sign Player Lionel Messi 'Humiliated'
  • Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals the One 'Terrible' Thing About Life in Saudi Arabia
  • Cristiano Ronaldo has already been given 'special permission' to break strict Saudi rule as he commits future to Al Nassr