Lionel Messi has always moved to his own rhythm. Whether it was staying at Barcelona until the club collapsed under its own mismanagement or choosing Inter Miami over a $1.4 billion Saudi deal in 2023, his decisions have rarely followed the obvious path.
Now, at 38 and approaching the final year of his contract with Miami, Messi is once again at a crossroads.
According to a report from L’Équipe, Al-Ahli—Saudi Arabia’s reigning Asian champions and one of four clubs owned by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund—have opened talks with Messi about a blockbuster transfer once his Inter Miami deal expires in December 2025.
The pitch is simple: come to the Pro League, join a title-winning squad stacked with talent, and reignite your rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo under the desert lights. For Saudi Arabia, it’s more than a signing. It’s legacy-building ahead of the 2034 World Cup.
For Messi, it’s more complicated.
What does Messi want in 2026?
The 2026 World Cup, hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is looming as a final act in Messi’s international career. And it’s shaping everything around him.
Inter Miami want to keep him. Club owner Jorge Mas said as recently as June that he’s “cautiously optimistic” about securing a contract extension, adding, “We wish for Messi to finish his career here.” Miami Freedom Park, the club’s new stadium, is set to open in March 2026. The dream scenario? Messi leading the team onto the pitch in their new home just months before captaining Argentina‘s title defense.
But MLS’s schedule presents a problem. The 2025 season ends in October. If Messi doesn’t extend, he’ll be without competitive football for nearly five months before the World Cup. That’s fueling speculation that he may seek a short-term move abroad—and the Saudi Pro League, which runs from August to May, fits the calendar perfectly.
Al-Ahli, who won the 2025 AFC Champions League, are aggressively pursuing him. The club already boasts names like Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, Franck Kessié, and Edouard Mendy. And with the backing of the PIF, money isn’t an issue. The kingdom reportedly offered Messi $1.4 billion in 2023, which he turned down for family reasons. This time, the offer is said to be more strategic, tied to playing time, schedule, and perhaps even a controlled build-up to the World Cup.
Saudi officials know exactly what they’re doing. The idea of Messi and Ronaldo facing off again, this time in Riyadh instead of El Clásico, is the kind of spectacle that transforms leagues. It’s content. It’s global reach. It’s sportswashing, too—but that’s never been a deterrent for Saudi football.
What happens next?
Messi’s current deal with Inter Miami expires in December 2025. Talks about an extension are ongoing. Miami are offering comfort, legacy, and the promise of building a team around him with names like Rodrigo De Paul and other Argentina teammates reportedly on their radar.
But Al-Ahli offer rhythm. Match fitness. Competitive minutes leading directly into World Cup 2026.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s experience in Saudi Arabia offers a preview. He’s now entering his third year with Al-Nassr, having scored goals at a record pace while remaining Portugal’s captain. He hasn’t won major team honors, but he’s stayed relevant, fit, and fiercely competitive.
Messi may be watching that blueprint.
If he moves, it’ll be about more than money. It’ll be about timing. Momentum. Preparation. One final surge toward a dream he’s already lived once—and wants to live again.
