Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi reject big-money offer to advertise for Saudi Arabia

Cristiano Ronaldo has rejected an offer to advertise tourism in Saudi Arabia according to The Telegraph and carried by Marca.

The Portuguese, formerly of Sporting, Manchester United and Real Madrid and currently of Juventus, was offered a reported figure of €6m per year. The agreement would have required Ronaldo to feature in commercial campaigns and visit the country.

Saudi Arabia are trying to improve their image internationally, using sport as a principal tool. The country held last year’s Supercopa de Espana in Jeddah, with Madrid winning out ahead of Barcelona, Valencia and Atletico Madrid. The tournament caused quite the stir in the country.

Lionel Messi also received an offer from Saudi Arabia, but like his great rival didn’t accept. Saudi Arabia has been accused by the international community of human rights violations and endeavours to change that view. Through its “Visit Saudi” campaign it aims to become an attractive tourist destination, and enlisting the help of famous footballers would help in this greatly.

Tags Cristiano Ronaldo La Liga Real Madrid

39 Comments

    1. This are not the kind of places humans should visit for any reason, imagine the case of Jamal Khachogi and how it ended

      1. They will contribute nothing for Saudi Arabia. These are strong headed celebs. Saudi don’t need them too.

    2. Ohhhh! My brother, is like you are not following. Saudi are real……. Google about that properly. Especially what happened in Turkey some years back.

  1. This are not the kind of places humans should visit for any reason, imagine the case of Jamal Khachogi and how it ended

  2. They will contribute nothing for Saudi Arabia. These are strong headed celebs. Saudi don’t need them too.

  3. Trendy news makes for finger pointing and we just forget the basic fact that no government is totally pure.

    1. KSA became one of the wealthiest countries in the world without them, and will continue to prosper without them.

  4. I think this is Myopic on the two footballers side. There are millions of Saudis and Arabs in neighboring regions who adore, you and what you represent. This would have been an opportunity to give back a little , a way of compensating for the repressive systems they endure by acknowledging their aspirations and endorsing the few joys they are allowed. It would take away little from You!

    1. What human right abuses? Telling people to dress properly and to cover themselves is not human right abuse. Human right abuse is what the people of Palestine go through everyday, being forced away from their land.No body in Europe sees that as a violation.

      1. For the clowns saying there are no abuses, here is a start:

        1. Leaders are not elected; birthright leadership
        2. religion based government
        3. Women are considered property
        4. No free speech
        5. Sham justice system – no representation, no appeal, high number of execution, torture as punishment
        6. Men have very small p**is – no satisfaction for the ladies!

    2. What little? Kashogis death is just overtly shameful.
      You butcher a human being piece by piece and the annoying part is that the act was carried out by the authorities in an embassy for that matter.
      Shamelessness has to be first nature and this is not about money but humanitarian ism, something the Saudis know nothing about.

    3. I support you vibrant comment at least they would have accept the offer in the name of their fans from Saudi Arabia

  5. BEING A SUPERSTAR FOOTBALLER KNOWN AS THE BEST 2 PLAYERS TO EVER STEP ON TO THE PITCH COMES WITH GREAT RESPONSIBILITY & WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY COMES GREAT CRITICISM.. STIPULATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OFFERED BY CR7/MESSI SO THE OPPRESSIVE LEADERS WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO COMPLY WITH FIFA REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO “FAIR PLAY” TO IT’S CITIZENS.

  6. BEING A SUPERSTAR FOOTBALLER KNOWN AS THE BEST 2 PLAYERS TO EVER STEP ON TO THE PITCH COMES WITH GREAT RESPONSIBILITY & WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY COMES GREAT CRITICISM.. STIPULATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OFFERED BY CR7/MESSI SO THE OPPRESSIVE LEADERS WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO COMPLY WITH FIFA REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO “FAIR PLAY” TO IT’S CITIZENS.

  7. BEING A SUPERSTAR FOOTBALLER KNOWN AS THE BEST 2 PLAYERS TO EVER STEP ON TO THE PITCH COMES WITH GREAT RESPONSIBILITY & WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY COMES GREAT CRITICISM.. STIPULATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OFFERED BY CR7/MESSI SO THE OPPRESSIVE LEADERS WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO COMPLY WITH FIFA REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO “FAIR PLAY” TO IT’S CITIZENS.

  8. This is great news that they refused, Saudi should stop advertising for infidels to come to their lands.
    Only the believers should inspire to and visit Saudi, before the tragedy of what happened to Dubai happens to it.

    The terrible the event of Jamal Khashoggi is not a representation of the Holy land.

  9. Saudi Arabia:

    Apostasy = death
    Atheist = death
    Dissenters = death
    Freedom of speech = imprisonment/life sentence and/or death
    Almost all basic civil liberties you can think is control by a collection of inbred (first cousins marrying each other and titling themselves kings/princes/princess etc)

    Imagine what they did to Jamal in a foreign land for doing nothing but disagree with MBS, then revert to what they could do inside their border!!!

    I might just start respecting Messi and Ronaldo a little more for their amazing gesture.

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