“They want to convince people this is a welcoming place” – A scholar makes bold claim on Saudi Arabia’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi interest

According to a senior resident scholar, Saudi Arabia's interest in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is down to their bid to enhance their reputation on a global stage.

Over the years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hasn't had the best of images worldwide. They have been involved in a number of controversies ranging from the Yemen war to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Saudi Arabia have high hopes that their investments in sports, arts, and music will change their image, particularly to the younger generation. They also wish to reduce revenue dependency on oil and focus on increasing tourism rates. This new financial plan is being overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Kristin Smith Diwan, a senior resident scholar from the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington explained these changes. She said (via Times of India):

"It's a complete reorientation of the kingdom. They want to convince people this is a welcoming place, not a threatening one."

An instance of their spending was in January when Al-Nassr signed Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese ace joined the club on a two-and-a-half-year contract estimated to be worth $200 million a year.

Saudi Arabia are also considering making a joint bid with Egypt and Greece to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner will be an ambassador for this push due to a clause in his Al-Nassr contract.

Moreover, Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are also considering spending up to $400 million a year to sign Lionel Messi this summer. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar is out of contract at the end of this season and could be tempted to play in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund also led a consortium that saw them acquire Premier League side Newcastle United last year for $373 million. They have aided the Magpies heavily, who are now most likely to play UEFA Champions League football next season.

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Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Who is the GOAT?

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the two greatest footballers of this generation and arguably of all time. Both have a claim for being the GOAT, so let's take a look at their career statistics so far.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 836 goals and provided 236 assists in 1164 appearances for club and country to date. He is the highest goalscorer in world football and has also won five Ballon d'Or awards. The 38-year-old currently plies his trade for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and still represents Portugal on the international stage.

Lionel Messi, meanwhile, has scored 805 goals and provided 357 assists in 1025 appearances for club and country so far. The PSG forward has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards. He also recently won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, captaining Argentina to the prestigious trophy.

It is easy to say Lionel Messi is the GOAT over Cristiano Ronaldo based on stats alone. However, the latter has also played in more leagues and teams than the former. Hence, both should be appreciated for the careers they've had so far.