Soccer icon Lionel Messi will officially become a free agent this weekend, and that means a serious bidding war could occur in the next few weeks for one of the greatest players in the sport’s history.
While there are many who feel Lionel Messi’s best days are well behind him at 35 years old, he is still a high-level player. He proved that at the end of 2022 when the Argentinian legend guided his country’s national team to their third World Cup title, and first in nearly 40 years.
However, following a memorable run in the tournament and showcasing just how good he still is in one of the greatest World Cup Finals of all time, Lionel Messi has struggled as a very expensive member of the Paris Saint Germain roster.
There was already some doubt if the club would bring him back with his contract set to expire this month. But with PSG clinching another Ligue 1 title last week despite his play, Messi is now expendable since the club already has enough star power in the likes of superstar Frenchman Kylian Mbappe.
Negotiations between the club and Lionel Messi have been a bit of a roller coaster over the last few months as a return even seemed likely earlier this year. However, it was made official this week that the two sides have agreed to a separation and the soccer great will hit the open market on June 4.
While he is not one of the 10 best players on the planet anymore, he is still a star and one of the most famous athletes on Earth. This means Messi is sure to get some massive offers in the coming weeks. Let’s take a look at four likely landing spots for the man that has won seven Ballon d’Or trophies.
Saudi Pro League
On a competitive level, the Saudi Pro League does not have much to offer other than playing against fellow legend Cristiano Ronaldo on occasion. However, there is no club or league that can offer more money than the SPL. That is why they are the favorites to land Lionel Messi.
Money talks and the PSG veteran is not getting any younger. If the rumor of a potential contract that could pay him over $400 million a year is true, it might be too good an offer for him to refuse.