Al-Nassr's biggest rivals Al-Hilal interested in signing Lionel Messi

The Saudi club are considering making the Argentine a substantial contract offer in an effort to surpass their regional rivals' acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo was a free agent when he left Manchester United by mutual consent. Al-Nassr offered him a lucrative contract worth £177 million a year, and the player agreed to the deal.

The 37-year-old received a two-match suspension after slamming a spectator's phone to the ground during the United vs. Everton match. According to FIFA, the suspension continues to be in effect even after the player changes clubs.

And it's expected that the former Real Madrid star will make his debut against Lionel Messi's PSG on January 19 in a friendly match between Ligue 1 giants and an All-Stars team made up of Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal.

Additionally, according to the Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, the 35-year-old will receive a $300 million annual compensation from Al-Hilal. Furthermore, the former Barcelona star already has a good relationship with Saudi Arabia, which could help Al-Hilal in its pursuit of the player.

The player is Saudi’s tourism ambassador. On the "Visit Saudi" website, it read: "Lionel Messi wants you to unleash your inner emotion seeker and discover the unimaginable." "Whether you travel to discover new things or old things."

It is also speculated that Al-Hilal will get financial support from the Saudi government in order to sign him away from PSG. And Lionel Messi has not yet extended his contract with PSG, which expires on June 30, 2023.

The signing would once again spark rivalry in Saudi Arabia which fans used to witness in Spain for a decade and two of the game's greatest players, fame in football will also help the growth of Saudi Arabian football.

According to sources, Barcelona are also interested in signing one of their longest-serving players, but Lionel Messi is yet to make his decision. Messi was in the spotlight as he returned to PSG following his FIFA 2022 World Cup win and was on the scoresheet against Angers.