The bombshell has dropped! Lionel Messi might sign a lucrative contract with a Saudi club, which means he and Cristiano Ronaldo will face off again soon, according to rumours across several news outlets late Thursday. The Argentine striker is preparing with Inter Miami for a showdown against Paris Saint-Germain next Sunday, June 29th, in a Round 16 match that promises to be a thriller. Messi used to play for PSG but left the Parisian team to join Major League Soccer as a free agent, claiming he was done with the struggles he was facing in the French team. He said his time at PSG “was a period I did not enjoy”. At Inter Miami, Messi has become the highest-paid player in MLS with $20.4 million a year, but he’s about to leave them for a 10x salary in Saudi Arabia, on the other side of town, where Ronaldo is. Messi’s time at Inter Miami is ending According to the Madrid-Barcelona sports news website, Messi’s time at Inter Miami is down to just a few hours. The news outlet quoted the “Al-Midan Sports” newspaper from Saudi Arabia. Madrid-Barcelona says the Saudi news organisation has discovered that Messi’s future is being negotiated. “A meeting is scheduled between his father and agent, Jorge Messi, and Al-Hilal president Fahd bin Nafel,” the news outlet wrote. “The latter is in the United States for the World Cup and wants to explore firsthand the possibility of the Number 10 joining his club this summer.” Al-Hilal plans to strengthen its football club with a new star after Neymar’s departure. Leo Messi is the chosen one. The highest-paid footballer in the world A contract is now being prepared, making him the highest-paid player in the world, because, as you may all remember, Ronaldo just signed a two-year contract worth $200 million a year. Messi is reportedly being offered $215 million, completely tax-free, according to the Saudi newspaper. The Argentine forward is seriously considering the opportunity, as he’d be joining the best team in Saudi Arabia, Al-Hilal, an ambitious team that continues to grow. In recent weeks, they have hired Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, following their run to the Champions League final this season. Inzaghi won one Serie A title, two Coppa Italia titles, and three consecutive Supercoppa Italiana titles, and reached the UEFA Champions League finals in 2023 and 2025. Sports news outlet, Footboom, has also confirmed the story. Messi and Ronaldo in the same league? “Word on the street is that Fahd bin Nafel, the dedicated president of Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, has crossed the Atlantic with one mission in mind: to have a heart-to-heart with Jorge Messi, Lionel’s father and his trusted agent,” the outlet wrote. “Their mission? Persuade the Argentine maestro to leap into Al Hilal’s bold venture, a club that has already signed big names and harbours dreams of leaving an indelible mark on the global football map,” it stated. If Messi decides to go, millions of people worldwide will celebrate the opportunity to see Ronaldo and Messi face off once again, as the debate of who is the best continues.