Saudi businessman pays $2.6m to watch Ronaldo v. Messi game in KSA

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Head of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, Turki Al-Sheikh, launched a fundraiser for a VIP ticket to watch Cristiano Ronaldo take on Lionel Messi in a game in Riyadh, and real estate businessman Musharraf bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, General Manager of the Aqar One group of companies paid $2.6 million (SR10,000,000) for it. 

The bidding began at €250,000 ($268,000) which will see an all-star Saudi Arabia league team consisting of players from Al Nassr and Al Hilal go head to head with PSG, consisting of Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and more world stars.

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The proceeds from the VIP ticket sale will be donated to Saudi Arabia’s Ehsan charity fund. Musharraf bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi has also won the chance to meet the players, with access to their locker rooms, and to take a photo with the winning team. 

Start of a new era 🙏🇸🇦#HalaRonaldo pic.twitter.com/4N8t9zi734

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) January 3, 2023

The full ticket benefit includes the opportunity to meet Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé, attend the opening ceremony, sit alongside Turki Al-Sheikh in VIP seats, attend a gala lunch, enter both teams' changing rooms on matchday, access to the trophy award and take a photo with the winning team.

The match is due to take place in Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International Stadium on Thursday, January 19.

This comes after Ronaldo joined Saudi football club Al-Nassr earlier this month, agreeing to a £175 million per year contract. He left the Manchester United club after an interview with Piers Morgan that saw him criticize the club, Erik ten Hag, and the Glazers.