visit saudi arabia and messi

WATCH: Messi shatters stereotypes in Saudi Tourism’s newest campaign

• Saudi Arabia

The campaign shines the spotlight on Saudi’s open and welcoming culture and the importance of inspiring young Saudi women to reach their full potential

Saudi’s national tourism brand ‘Saudi Welcome To Arabia’ has kicked off a global marketing campaign, featuring football icon and Saudi Tourism ambassador, Lionel Messi.

Launching across key target markets in Europe, India and China, the ‘Go Beyond What You Think’ campaign is anchored on consumer insights, which revealed there are still common misconceptions about the destination.

Addressing these misconceptions head-on, the campaign’s call-to-action encourages visitors to discover the “unexpected beyond outdated stereotypes”, with a hero video  featuring Messi breaking down metaphorical ‘walls’ of various misconceptions about the country.

The video showcases Saudi’s diverse locations, weather and terrain – from the Red Sea to the mountains in Aseer, snow-covered Tabuk, the coastal city of Jeddah and Riyadh, its capital.

The Messi campaign highlights the Diriyah E-Prix, Riyadh Season’s theme park rides, AlUla’s hot air balloon flights and MDL Beast music events

The campaign is a combination of TV, social, digital, and OTA tactics activated over three months.

Come and see what Lionel Messi discovered in Saudi and experience a world beyond your expectations.​ #ShareYourSaudi ​ #VisitSaudi pic.twitter.com/8pixzg8Khp — Visit Saudi (@VisitSaudi) January 26, 2024

It is the latest in a series of initiatives by Saudi Tourism to foster the “broadening of perspectives and bridging cultures through tourism”.

The campaign brings to life the UN Tourism, ‘Tourism Opens Minds’ Initiative that launched on World Tourism Day in Riyadh in September 2023, which extends an invitation to travellers “to broaden their horizons and explore uncharted corners of the world”.

Messi shares a close bond with Saudi Arabia

Lionel Messi is one of many international figures who took that pledge. Messi has a close connection with the kingdom being a frequent visitor to the country, including most recently with his wife, Antonella and their two children. 

The campaign launches ahead of Messi’s much-anticipated Saudi return playing two matches with his current Club, Inter Miami, against Al Nassr on  February 1 and against Al Hilal on January 22.

Shining the spotlight on female Saudi trailblazers

The campaign also places a spotlight on Saudi’s open and welcoming culture and the importance of inspiring young Saudi women to reach their full potential.

Messi celebrates the Saudi women leading the kingdom’s cultural transformation such as the Saudi Women’s National football team, motorsport athlete Dania Akeel, DJ Cosmicat, and Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Saudi woman in space.

Event-filled winter in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is hosting 17,000 events that will attract visitors this winter, with o ngoing events including Riyadh Season, Jeddah Season and Diriyah Season.

Events coming up include the Saudi Cup  (February 23-24),  Saudi Arabian Grand Prix  (March 7-9),  AlUla Arts Festival (Feb 9-March 2) and AlUla skies festival (April 10-27).

 In other news, Saudi’s eVisa programme now includes 63 countries and special administrative regions, the GCC residents visa, and the free 96-hour Stopover Visa.

 Stopover Visa holders are eligible for a complimentary one-night hotel stay during the stopover when booking with SAUDIA.

Travellers can use the Stopover Visa to explore Saudi and perform Umrah.

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Lionel Messi is being paid up to $25 million just to promote tourism in Saudi Arabia — as long as he doesn't say anything to 'tarnish' the country: report

• Lionel Messi is the second highest-paid athlete in the world, according to Forbes.
• The soccer player signed a contract in 2021 with the Saudi Tourism Authority to promote the Kingdom.
• The deal requires Messi to take an annual vacation to the country, among other stipulations.

Lionel Messi, one of the world's highest-paid athletes, signed a lucrative deal with Saudi Arabia's tourism authority in 2021 to promote the country, The New York Times reported .

Newly unveiled contract details reviewed by the Times show the Argentine soccer player could receive up to $25 million over three years to act as a sort of ambassador for Saudi Arabia's growing tourism industry.

Part of the deal requires Messi to post his travels to Saudi Arabia on his social media accounts, which currently includes 472 million Instagram followers. Some of the earliest Instagram posts of him in the country date back to May 2022.

"If you are coming to watch the World Cup, and you want to have an authentic Arabian experience. Don't miss out on everything Saudi is offering!" Messi wrote in an Instagram post marked as a paid partnership with Visit Saudi from October 7, 2022.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

With this deal, Messi is also barred from saying anything that may "tarnish" Saudi Arabia, the Times reported. Given the country's notoriously poor human rights record , it's an important stipulation in the contract.

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More recently, the country has been accused of attempting to sportswash atrocities by backing a golf competition, LIV Golf. On June 6, LIV Golf and the PGA Tour — once rivals — announced a surprise merger .

A document reviewed by the Times shows how much Messi is paid for fulfilling each contract agreement, including about $2 million to take one annual family vacation to the country for five days or two annual vacations of three days each. The Saudi government will pay travel expenses for Messi and up to 20 family members and friends, according to the report.

Messi must also promote Saudi Arabia on his social media account, participate in the country's tourism campaign, and perform charitable work and guest appearances. Each obligation pays out about $2 million, the Times reported. It is unclear if the document reviewed by the Times reflects the most updated terms of Messi's contract.

The lucrative deal highlights Saudi's continued interest in the prolific soccer star, the second highest-paid athlete in the world behind Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Forbes .

According to The Athletic , Messi was offered $429 million a year to join Saudi Arabia's soccer club, Al Hilal. Messi ultimately decided to join the Major League Soccer (MLS) team, Inter Miami, in Florida, which David Beckham co-founded.

Details of the MLS offer are unknown, but The Athletic reported that Messi could receive a portion of MLS's $2.5 billion deal with Apple, which has an agreement to stream the league's matches for the next ten years.

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SAUDI PRO LEAGUE

Details filter over Leo Messi’s contract with Visit Saudi

The new york times newspaper reveals the conditions and amounts and that the argentine would have received should he have opted for a move to the gulf nation..

On 9 May (2022), a photo shared by Lionel Messi on his social media networks kicked off his lucrative partnership with the government of Saudi Arabia . The player was on board a boat, posing like a professional model and with the sun setting, the Argentine player confessed that he was “ discovering the Red Sea ”. Since his contract as an ambassador for the Visit Saudi tourist board, speculation was rife that the Rosario native would hang up his boots playing for a Saudi Pro League team.

Highly respected daily The New York Times has revealed details of a previously undisclosed financial outline for the player and the Saudi tourist board that has already seen the striker pocket approximately 2 million dollars for the original Instagram post. The revelation states that Messi is set to receive over 20 million dollars over three years in exchange for commercial appearances, a handful of publications on social networks and vacations with all expenses paid by Saudi tourism authorities.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

Of course, the player cannot speak ill of the Gulf nation with the exercise another chapter in the ongoing effort to mask nation’s human rights violations and the treatment of women.

Messi and Visit Saudi deal

• 1.8 million euros for a minimum of one annual family vacation of five days, or two annual vacations of three days each. Expenses and five-star accommodation would be borne by the government for Messi and a maximum of 20 people including family and friends.
• 1.8 million for promoting Saudi Arabia; He will post on his social media accounts 10 times a year, regardless of the promotion of his vacation in the kingdom.
• 1.8 million for participating in an annual tourism campaign. In November (2022) the first video was released.
• 1.8 million for charity work and appearances.

For now, Messi is complying with the terms of the contract with a series of promotional posts appearing on the striker’s social media networks . In May he visited the country and shared photos with his wife and children petting horses or playing at the fair: “We spent a beautiful day exploring Diriyah as a family, a place with 300 years of history where the Saudi state was born,” he wrote.

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Lionel Messi move to Saudi Arabia increasingly likely after PSG talks break down - sources

Lionel Messi is considering a move to Saudi Arabia that would see him join Al Hilal , the city rivals of Cristiano Ronaldo 's Al Nassr , when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires this summer, a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN.

Having opened talks with Messi and his advisers late last year, senior figures in the bid to take him to the Middle Eastern nation had initially believed they had no more than an outside chance of persuading the former Barcelona forward to follow Ronaldo to Riyadh.

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However, a source told ESPN there is now an increasing likelihood of Messi, 35, who fronts the Visit Saudi tourism campaign, moving to the Saudi Pro League, putting the probability as high as "50-50" following talks with the player's camp in Saudi Arabia last month.

A separate source told ESPN that Messi received an offer from Saudi Arabia last week.

ESPN reported Tuesday that Messi is unlikely to reach an agreement to extend his contract at PSG, which runs out at the end of the season. He signed a two-year deal on his arrival from Barcelona in 2021.

While Barcelona president Joan Laporta maintains an interest in funding a deal to take the Argentina captain back to the Spotify Camp Nou, the LaLiga leaders continue to battle against financial problems, and a move for Messi appears unlikely to succeed.

And although Inter Miami have been involved in long-term negotiations to sign Messi, the Major League Soccer franchise would be unable to come close to competing with the money on offer in Saudi Arabia.

But while a source said that reports of a £350 million-a-year package with Al Hilal are excessive, there is an appetite in the country to continue to boost the profile of the Saudi Pro League following Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr in December.

Saudi Arabia is scheduled to stage the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in December and is expected to confirm its bid to host the 2030 World Cup later this year.

- Laurens: PSG fans booing Messi. Here's why.

Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr has already significantly increased the focus on football in the country, with the source saying the opportunity to sign Messi this summer has become more realistic, with many major clubs in Europe struggling financially.

Al Hilal, coached by former Argentina forward Ramon Diaz, are the reigning Saudi champions and the most successful team in the Asian Champions League, having won the competition for a record fourth time when it was last staged in 2021.

The club are regarded as the biggest and most popular in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh neighbours Al Nassr their traditional rivals.

Additional reporting from ESPN's Moises Llorens contributed to this story.

Messi apologises to PSG for unapproved Saudi Arabia trip

Paris Saint-Germain suspended the football player after he missed training.

Lionel Messi has apologised to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and his teammates for going to Saudi Arabia on an unauthorised trip that resulted in his suspension.

Messi posted a short video on Instagram on Friday to ask for forgiveness and chalk up the controversy to a scheduling misunderstanding.

He missed training on Monday, while he was on a promotional trip to Saudi Arabia, and a day later the French club announced it suspended the World Cup winner.

Messi said he thought the team had Monday off.

“Hello, I wanted to make this video about what is happening. First of all, ask for forgiveness from my teammates and the club. Honestly, I thought we were going to have an off day as it had been the case in the weeks prior.

“I had this trip to [Saudi] Arabia organised, which I had cancelled before, and this time I couldn’t cancel. Again, ask for forgiveness from what I did and I will be waiting for whatever the club decides. Hugs.”

Earlier on Friday, coach Christophe Galtier said the club and Messi will wait until the end of his suspension to discuss how he finishes the season.

Messi is not expected to extend his contract, and there are only five games remaining.

Galtier was asked at a news conference if he’ll be able to count on Messi returning to the field after the suspension.

“We’ll see when Leo returns what will happen,” Galtier said. “Obviously, there will be discussions with the entire club but also with Leo, who is the primary person involved.”

The club has not confirmed the length of the Argentina great’s suspension but French media reported it to be two weeks, which would mean he would miss two games. PSG have a five-point lead over second-placed Marseille in Ligue 1.

Galtier said the club told him that Messi was suspended, and he declined to say if he endorsed the decision.

“I did not have to make the decision,” the coach said. “I was informed of the decision.”

Messi joined PSG in 2021 after winning every major honour with Barcelona. The Catalan club that Messi called home from the age of 13 could not afford to keep him because of large debts and Spanish league financial regulations.

The French club and its fans hoped Messi’s arrival would result in an elusive Champions League title. Instead, the Qatari-backed club was eliminated in the round of 16 in consecutive seasons.

Messi was welcomed into Paris with a police escort. His exit is sure to be less glorious. Reports have linked Messi to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, a return to Barcelona, and a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.

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Look: Lionel Messi visits Saudi Arabia for family holiday, marvels at greenery, wildlife

The football megastar is saudi's tourism ambassador, and has already visited the kingdom several times before, by web desk.

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Published: Tue 2 May 2023, 12:37 PM

Last updated: Tue 2 May 2023, 8:47 PM

Football superstar Lionel Messi is currently in Saudi Arabia, enjoying a family holiday with wife Antonela Roccuzzo and his children. The World Cup winner arrived in the Kingdom on Monday, sharing an image of Saudi Arabia's "unexpected wonders" with his over 450 million Instagram followers.

"Who thought Saudi has so much green?", he captioned the photo of a lush canopy of trees, adding how much he "love[s] to explore" the Kingdom whenever he can.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

The kingdom's Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb, also took to Twitter to welcome the Argentinian footballer to Saudi, sharing heartwarming images of Messi with his family as they enjoyed various activities together.

"I am happy to welcome #Messi and his family to Saudi to enjoy the magical tourist destinations and authentic experiences", Al Khateeb captioned the photos. "We welcome visitors from all around the world to experience a unique trip to Saudi Arabia and its hospitality."

Later, the minister shared pictures of the football legend and his family's visit to the historic town of Diriyah in the Kingdom, where they got another taste of traditional Saudi hospitality.

Messi can be seen posing with local Saudi men, women and children, a big smile on his face.

In another photo, Antonela looks at her husband, dressed in loose, comfortable clothes and donning Arab head jewellery.

A beautiful family photo shows the power couple and their two sons enjoying the company of a horse, touching its face gently.

This is not the first time the megastar has visited in the kingdom – Messi is Saudi Arabia's tourism ambassador, and landed in Jeddah in May 2022, accompanied by a group of friends, to a rousing reception.

Former Al-Hilal and Saudi national team forward Sami Al-Jaber welcomed the move, stating “It is a very distinguished and unique step to have Messi as an ambassador for Saudi Tourism."

Last month, the Argentinian footballer was also reportedly offered a stunning €400 million a year to play for Saudi club Al Hilal , according to celebrated Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano. But Messi, according to the Italian journalist, was keen on playing for another club in Europe.

"Leo’s absolute priority: continue in Europe," Romano wrote on social media.

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Lionel Messi suspended by PSG over 'unauthorised absence' to take trip to visit Saudi Arabia, according to media reports

French outlet L'Equipe reports Lionel Messi has been suspended for two weeks by Paris Saint-Germain after unauthorised absence from training to visit Saudi Arabia; six-time Ballon D'or winner's two-year deal with PSG ends in the summer

Tuesday 2 May 2023 21:23, UK

PSG have reportedly suspended Lionel Messi for two weeks without pay after the World Cup winner's unauthorised absence from training to travel to Saudi Arabia.

The 35-year-old was pictured in Riyadh on Monday, with French outlet L'Equipe reporting he has been docked two weeks wages and will not train with the team during that time.

He would miss the upcoming Ligue 1 matches against Troyes and Ajaccio, but could then return for the match against Auxerre on May 21.

Messi is in the final months of a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 leaders, and last month Sky Sports News reported he wanted to witness their sporting plans for next season before committing to a new contract.

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He was also offered a one-year deal worth a reported £400m to play for Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, though there is no indication whether their offer had any connection with his trip. Messi already serves as a tourism ambassador to the Middle Eastern country.

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I am happy to welcome #Messi and his family to Saudi to enjoy the magical tourist destinations and authentic experiences. We welcome visitors from all around the world to experience a unique trip to Saudi Arabia and its hospitality. 🇸🇦 #WelcomeMessi pic.twitter.com/QQGdnAqQ08 — Ahmed Al Khateeb أحمد الخطيب (@AhmedAlKhateeb) May 1, 2023

Tourism minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb tweeted a welcome to Messi on Monday as well as posting pictures of the Argentina World Cup winner, only hours after he had played 90 minutes of PSG's 3-1 home defeat to Lorient, which cut their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to just five points with as many games remaining.

" I am happy to welcome Messi and his family to Saudi to enjoy the magical tourist destinations and authentic experiences," Al-Khateeb tweeted. "We welcome visitors from all around the world to experience a unique trip to Saudi Arabia and its hospitality."

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Barca stepping up chase for Messi return

Barcelona have already attempted to step up their efforts to make Messi a contract offer this summer by talking to LaLiga about generating more flexibility in their Financial Fair Play ratio.

The club are in talks with the league regarding their spending limits for next season, with the idea firmly in mind to try and bring Messi back to the Nou Camp for what is likely to be his last year in European football.

However, it will not be easy with Barca having been charged by LaLiga for breaching their limit with three players during the 2021-22 season, including ex-Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen and were forced to re-register Gavi as an academy player.

The Christensen fine has been successfully appealed but Barca remain at the very limit of what they can spend and will almost certainly have to move players on to accommodate a Messi return.

Nevertheless, the club are working very much with that intention in mind and they have been buoyed by the recent lack of progress in Messi's contract talks with Paris Saint-Germain.

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However, manager Xavi told reporters last week it was "too soon" to speculate whether he would return to the club.

"When it comes to Leo, we don't know if it will happen or not," he said. "We don't know. It's too soon to talk about it.

"Winning the title is very important to us, for the club, the staff and the players it would give us a lot of stability. As for new players arriving, we will talk about it once we've won LaLiga."

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Saudi Arabia Stuns Messi, Argentina in Massive World Cup Upset

Saudi arabia scored twice in the second half to secure the victory, by logan reardon • published november 22, 2022 • updated on november 22, 2022 at 9:04 am.

In one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina 2-1 in their first match of the 2022 World Cup on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia was powered by two goals early in the second half, which left Argentina playing on its heels.

Saudi Arabia entered the World Cup at No. 51 in the FIFA rankings, while Argentina was ranked at No. 3. Prior to this defeat, Argentina was unbeaten in its last 36 matches – the second longest streak in men’s international soccer history.

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Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari scored for Saudi Arabia in the 48th and 53rd minutes, respectively. Lionel Messi scored Argentina’s lone goal on a penalty kick in the 10th minute.

The game began as expected, with Argentina on the attack. Messi had an early shot attempt saved in the second minute. Moments later in the ninth minute, Argentina drew a penalty after VAR review when Leandro Paredes was taken down in the box by Abdulelah Al Malki.

That foul gave Messi a penalty kick attempt, which he put in the back of the net for his seventh career World Cup goal.

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Argentina appeared to score three more goals later in the first half, but each was disallowed after offside calls. The South American nation was called for offsides 10 times in the match.

With a 1-0 lead at the half, Argentina was in total control. After emerging from the locker room though, the tide shifted. Saudi Arabia scored twice in the first eight minutes of the second half.

Al-Shehri beat his man to the spot in the box, firing a shot with his left foot under the defender and into the far corner of the net.

Just a few minutes later, Al-Dawsari gave Saudi Arabia the shocking lead with a decisive goal.

He got away from three defenders and curled a shot into the far corner, which left the Argentinian squad stunned. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez got his fingertips on the shot, but it wasn’t enough to stop it.

In the closing moments, Argentina had several opportunities to equalize the match. Each time, Saudi Arabia had an answer.

Goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais had five saves, including an impressive leaping grab in stoppage time to maintain the lead. Argentina had 15 shots (six on goal) compared to just three shots (two on goal) for Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia now has four World Cup victories in its history. It was the first time since 1990 that Argentina lost its first match at the World Cup.

Both teams will return to the pitch on Saturday, Nov. 26. Saudi Arabia will play Poland at 8 a.m. ET, while Argentina faces Mexico at 2 p.m. in what has suddenly become a must-win game.

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Lionel Messi is unveiled as an ambassador for Saudi Arabia tourism and shares a paid partnership Instagram post with Visit Saudi from a yacht in the Red Sea... months after families of prisoners in the country urged him not to get involved

• PSG's Lionel Messi was pictured arriving in Saudi Arabia on Monday evening 
• Messi was referred to as an ambassador of Saudi tourism on social media
• He later posted on Instagram from the Red Sea with the caption 'Visit Saudi' 

By Jack Bezants for MailOnline

Published: 08:31 EDT, 10 May 2022 | Updated: 02:13 EDT, 11 May 2022

View comments

Lionel Messi has been unveiled as an ambassador for tourism for Saudi Arabia, despite previously being urged to reject such overtures from the families of prisoners in the country.

A tweet from the Saudi Tourism Authority on Monday night showed Messi with his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Leandro Parades in the background, with the caption: 'We welcome Lionel Messi and his friends to Jeddah to enjoy Jeddah's historical heritage and the beauty of the Red Sea - #Messi_Ambassador_For_Saudi_Tourism'.

Messi later shared a 'sponsored by Visit Saudi' post on Instagram from a yacht with the caption: 'Discovering the Red Sea in Saudi. #VisitSaudi'.

Lionel Messi was pictured arriving in Saudi Arabia on Monday evening, where he was referred to as an ambassador for tourism 

Earlier this year, Messi was urged not to get involved commercially with Saudi Arabia

Later on Monday, Messi shared the above image and wrote the caption: 'Discovering the Red Sea in Saudi. #VisitSaudi'

Back in February, after it emerged via The Telegraph that Messi had been approached by the Saudi tourism board, families of prisoners of conscience wrote a letter that urged Messi not to get involved.

The letter was organised by human rights body Grant Liberty and, via The Independent, said: 'You are an inspiration to millions and what you say and do really matters. To put it bluntly – you have enormous power, but with that power comes great responsibility.

'The Saudi regime wants to use you to launder its reputation. Prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia have been tortured, sexually assaulted, and held in prolonged solitary confinement – often for months at a time – on an industrial scale.

'Women’s rights campaigners, reformist preachers, Shia activists, democracy campaigners, indeed anyone who criticises or even questions the regime can face long-term imprisonment and in some cases the death penalty.

'If you say ‘yes’ to Visit Saudi you are in effect saying yes to all the human rights abuses that take place today in modern Saudi Arabia. But if you say ‘no’ you will send an equally powerful message – that human rights matter, that decency matters, that those who torture and murder do not do so with impunity. The world must stand up to those who trample on others.'

But even last year, Messi was involved in promotional work with Saudi Arabia with his face seen on billboards in the country. And he is far from the only sporting idol with ties to the nation.

In 2019, David Beckham was criticised for agreeing to play in an exhibition match in the country alongside his former Real Madrid team-mate Zinedine Zidane.

Unicef, for whom Beckham is a goodwill ambassador, has critcised Saudi Arabia for its war in Yemen and said bombing attacks had been catastrophic.

Messi was told by families of prisoners of conscience that 'the Saudi regime wants to use you to launder its reputation'

David Beckham has previously been criticised for his sporting involvement with Saudi Arabia

Cristiano Ronaldo turned down a $6m offer to work commercially with Saudi Arabia

Furthermore, Amnesty International at the time released a statement urging sports stars involved in Saudi Arabia to use their platform to call out the regime.

A statement carried by The Sun said: 'Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority may well have plans to attempt to rebrand the Kingdom’s reputation, but we should not forget the cruelty that continues in the country.

'Saudi Arabia is currently jailing and torturing dissidents and human rights defenders, is heavily involved in the indiscriminate bombing of hospitals and homes in Yemen, and the spectre of Jamal Khashoggi’s gruesome murder hangs over the entire Saudi government.

'Countries like Saudi Arabia are well aware of the ‘sportswashing’ value of hosting major international entertainment and sporting events.'

Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, turned down a $6m offer to work commercially with the nation last year. 

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Move over Woodgate – Chris Smalling has made the worst debut in football history

As creatures conditioned to be social for the benefit of our survival, at least in theory, most human beings want to make a good impression on their first day in a new job.

Everybody tends to put their best foot forward, making an effort with the clothes they wear and going out of their way to make eye contact and smile against every fibre of their normal selves.

But there is one overriding thought for most people on their first day – don’t f*ck up. Unfortunately, Chris Smalling never got that memo.

Even in our job as dedicated football writers, we must admit we missed Smalling’s post-deadline day move from Roma to Al-Fayha. The 34-year-old was seemingly unwanted by Daniele De Rossi in Rome despite five years of stellar service for the Serie A club.

No matter. In the autumn of his career, Smalling had earned the right to a bumper payday before hanging up his boots and becoming Sky Sports’ token Fulham pundit. A two-year deal in Saudi could see him jump into a metaphorical pool of gold coins.

But the former England defender took just five minutes of his debut to kickstart the football equivalent of walking into a new office, defecating on the bosses’ desk and asking his married daughter out for drinks.

Opponents Al Raed were winless in the Saudi Pro League before meeting Smalling and Al-Fayha, but were ahead early as the former United man thumped a low cross into his own goal with the elan of a prolific forward.

Some will argue Smalling could do little with the speed of the cross, while others will say he showed the reaction time of a stoned sloth and failed to sort his feet out quickly enough. Both are right.

The bowed head and look of resignation was appropriate in the circumstances, but Smalling would have to performatively sacrifice himself to atone for what was to follow.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Chris Smalling in his 🇸🇦 Al Fayha debut: Own goal ✔️ Red card ✔️ His team lost 5-0, their highest-ever in the #SPL ✔️ pic.twitter.com/nitgjpSqSg — BabaGol (@BabaGol_) September 14, 2024

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Al-Fayha conceded two more goals before the break, before Smalling was shown a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity early in the second half.

Somewhere in the north east of England, Jonathan Woodgate opened a cold beer and emitted a satisfied sigh; he finally has company in the pantheon of worst debuts in football history.

Al-Fayha would go on to lose 5-0, their third defeat of the season and have already conceded 10 goals. At least Real Madrid rallied to win despite Woodgate’s best efforts in 2005.

After his move to Al Fayha became official, Smalling penned an emotional message on his Instagram profile.

“When we arrived in Rome in 2019, my family and I were greeted with kindness and warmth,” he wrote.

“You immediately made me feel at home in Rome. With the birth of my son, the city will forever have a special place in my heart. But all the good stories are bound to end and it’s time for me to let go.

“My love and admiration for AS Roma will remain forever.”

It’s possible that Smalling will need go above and beyond to win the admiration of his new club after a debut that can be safely filed under the category of ‘disastrous’.

First impressions have an unfortunate habit of sticking. Smalling will hope to buck that trend.

By Michael Lee