Lionel Messi's $25 Million Saudi Tourism Deal: Details Revealed in New Report

“Great memory spending a sensational day exploring Diriyah with my family, the birthplace of the Saudi state and home to 300 years of history. #visitsaudi #Diriyah @visitdiryah”

Posted five weeks ago, this Instagram post from renowned footballer Lionel Messi on Saudi Arabia, marked as a paid partnership with Visit Saudi, has garnered around 17 million likes and more than 78,000 comments.

Messi has a massive following of 472 million Instagram users and has been providing occasional glimpses into his travels to Saudi Arabia, which date back to May 2022.

These posts are part of the contractual obligations outlined in his partnership with Saudi Arabia's tourism authority, according to a new report in the New York Times — a deal that could earn him a staggering $25 million over three years.

According to the Times, the co