Lionel Messi’s potential move to Saudi Arabia: A look at football greats who played in unexpected leagues

Lionel Messi, the 35 year old Argentine football superstar, is reportedly preparing to continue his illustrious career by making a surprising move to Saudi Arabia. As a result, Barcelona fans will be left heartbroken, as they had hoped for Messi to return to his former club. However, Messi is not the first prominent player to seek opportunities in less renowned football territories.

One example is Brazilian icon Pelé, who joined the New York Cosmos (USA) in 1975. The 34-year-old was convinced to move to the North American Soccer League (NASL) by then-US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Pelé’s arrival generated significant interest, and match attendance surged from an average of 10,000 to over 40,000. Cosmos claimed a Football Bowl title in 1977 with Pelé’s inspirational performance on the pitch.

Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta spent time with Al Arabi (Qatar) from 2003 to 2005. At 34 years old, he joined the low-profile Q-League club on a free transfer, receiving a staggering US$ 8 million. Batistuta’s goal-scoring talent remained fierce in Doha, as he notched up a record 25 goals in his first season.

Another legendary footballer, Zico, signed for Japanese side Sumitomo Metals in his early forties. Although he was occupied with Brazil’s sports ministry, he took on the challenge of promoting the team to the forthcoming Japanese professional league in 1993. As Kashima Antlers, the club finished as runners-up in the first-ever J League, thanks in part to Zico’s influence.

David Beckham, a former England player aged 32 at the time, made a high-profile move from Real Madrid to LA Galaxy (USA) in 2007. His five-year, US$ 6.5 million-a-year contract boosted shirt deals and season ticket sales for the Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise. Beckham even won two MLS Cup titles with Galaxy before returning to Europe with Paris Saint-Germain. Importantly, LA Galaxy afforded him the chance to buy an MLS franchise, which he later used to purchase Inter Miami.

Despite Messi’s stunning move, other football greats have previously embraced lucrative contracts in unfamiliar regions. As these pioneers proved, there can be both personal and wider benefits from venturing into new footballing territories.