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A football executive has claimed that Lionel Messi offered to play in the Saudi Pro League next year but was rejected by the nation's sports minister. Messi, 38, reportedly explored the possibility of playing in Saudi Arabia on a short-term basis in order to prepare for the 2026 World Cup during the MLS off-season. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner recently signed a new three-year deal with Inter Miami , but their season comes to an end in December and doesn't restart until the spring. In the past, high-profile players such as David Beckham and Landon Donovan have joined European clubs on loan in order to keep themselves fit ahead of major tournaments. Messi is said to be keen on the idea and his entourage contacted Abdallah Hammad, general manager of the Mahd Academy for Talent Development, with the proposal of a four-month spell at a Saudi Pro League team. "Messi's team contacted me during the Club World Cup last summer," Hammad revealed on a podcast from Saudi media outlet Thmanya . "He wanted to play in Saudi Arabia during the four-month hiatus of the American league in order to prepare for the 2026 World Cup. The same thing happened with Beckham when he was playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy and went to play in Milan. "I submitted the proposal to the minister (Abdulaziz Al-Faisal) but he refused to let Messi come for just four months, and the matter was closed. He said that the Saudi league would not be a training camp." A move to the Middle East would've seen Messi face-off against long-time rivals such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema . It could've altered the Argentine's decision to sign a new contract with Miami. His previous deal was due to expire at the end of this year. Messi could've played in the Saudi Pro League before making a decision on his long-term future after the World Cup. Instead, the Barcelona legend appears to be staying in North America until the end of the 2028 season. "It makes me really happy to stay here and to continue with this project that, besides being a dream, has become a beautiful reality - playing in this stadium, at Miami Freedom Park," Messi said. "Since I arrived in Miami, I've been very happy, so I'm truly glad to keep going here." Should the Saudi Pro League have signed Lionel Messi? Have your say in the comments section . Beckham, Miami's co-owner, added: "Our vision was to bring the best players to Inter Miami and to this city, and that's exactly what we have done. We brought the best player to have ever played the game to our city. "That shows our commitment to Miami, but it also shows Leo's commitment to the city, to the club, and to the game. He's still as committed as he's ever been and he still wants to win." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
