Football fans in the Middle East will have the chance to see Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo play against each other for the first time in 2 years. As a result of this, an avid football fan has paid $2.6 million for a VIP ticket to watch the superstars go head-to-head in Saudi Arabia.
The exhibition match at King Fahd International Stadium on Thursday features the Paris Saint-Germain side facing a select side made up of players from Al Hilal and Ronaldo's new club Al Nassr. Ronaldo's unprecedented contract to the Saudi Pro League is record breaking, as no footballer has ever reached such a pedestal in terms of earnings.
The "Beyond Imagination" ticket for the match was auctioned off by the Saudi government's entertainment department, which will give the winner the chance to meet Ronaldo and Messi, as well as visiting both teams' dressing rooms, and trophy presentation.
The bidding started at $260,000 but finally rose to $2.6m before closing on Wednesday. The money raised will be donated to charity as this match in Riyadh could be the last time Ronaldo and Messi take the field together.
The two players, considered among the best in the history, last featured in the same game in Juventus' 3-0 win over Barcelona in December 2020. The friendly fixture will also mark Ronaldo's first football since signing a contract worth more than $214m a year with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.
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