• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Lionel Messi travelled to Saudi Arabia hours after shock PSG defeat

Home> Football

Updated 20:55 1 May 2023 GMT+1Published 20:50 1 May 2023 GMT+1

Lionel Messi travelled to Saudi Arabia hours after shock PSG defeat

Lionel Messi jetted out to Saudi Arabia after PSG were beaten 3-1 at home by Lorient.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Lionel Messi travelled to Saudi Arabia with his family just hours after PSG suffered a shock home defeat to Lorient.

Despite Kylian Mbappe scoring an utterly bizarre goal, Christophe Galtier's side were beaten 3-1 at the Parc des Princes - with Enzo Le Fee, Darwin Yongwa, Bamba Dieng all on the scoresheet in a game where Achraf Hakimi saw red.

It was a sixth defeat of the Ligue One campaign for PSG, who remain five points clear at the top of the table.

Advert

They will look to get back on track against Troyes on Sunday, but talisman Messi will have quite the turnaround.

Messi played the full 90 minutes of the Lorient loss before jetting out to the Middle East, where he is poised to spend a "few days" according to Le Parisien.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was snapped at the airport in Riyadh, where his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo is based as part of his lucrative contract with Al Nassr.

Messi visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia one year ago, touring Jeddah and experiencing the Red Sea. He then returned for PSG's friendly clash with the Riyadh XI captained by Ronaldo in January.

Advert

Image: Alamy
Image: Alamy

This will be his third trip to the country and is a contractually obligated one because of Messi's role as a Saudi tourism ambassador.

“I am happy to welcome Saudi Tourism Ambassador Lionel Messi and his family on his second vacation in Saudi Arabia. We are happy to share our authentic Saudi welcome with you all,” Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said.

A series of pictures showing Messi and his family in Saudi have been published, while Messi posted about the country prior to his flight out.

"Who thought Saudi Arabia has so much green?" he wrote on Instagram. I love to explore its unexpected wonders whenever I can."

Advert

According to The Athletic, Messi could well be earning $25 million per year to promote Saudi Arabia.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter & Visit Saudi

Topics: Lionel Messi, Saudi Arabia, Paris Saint-Germain

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_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
7 hours ago
9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 6 hours ago

    Kairat Almaty create piece of Champions League history after win over Celtic and it may never be topped

    Kairat Almaty beat Celtic on penalties to make history.

    Football
  • 7 hours ago

    Bruno Fernandes 'open to new project' as club want to sign him from Man Utd in £100m deal

    Fernandes turned down a move to the Saudi Pro League earlier this summer.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    Kobbie Mainoo's Man Utd future takes twist with Premier League club new 'favourites' to sign him

    Mainoo has played a bit-part role at United under Ruben Amorim.

    Football
  • 10 hours ago

    Alejandro Garnacho breaks silence with cryptic post after 'rejecting offer' to leave Man Utd

    Alejandro Garnacho turned down a proposal to leave Manchester United and got fans talking with a social media post.

    Football
  • QUIZ: Can you name every Ballon d'Or winner since 1990?
  • PSG to receive £8.8 million when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo meet in Saudi All-Star friendly
  • Lionel Messi could force Saudi law change as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr deal matched
  • Lionel Messi was shook when Saudi Arabia defender Ali Al-Bulayhi squared up to him after goal