Soccer Fan Spends $2.6 Million On Messi-Ronaldo VIP Ticket With Minimal Perks

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo exhibition match

Getty Image / FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP


A soccer fan spent a world record amount on a VIP ticket to see Lionel Messi face off against Cristiano Ronaldo. The exhibition match is held Thursday at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.

Cristiano Ronaldo famously parted ways with Manchester United during the 2022 World Cup. He signed a 2-year contract with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League that will pay him $75 million per year.

This is likely the most expensive ticket to any sporting event ever sold. Almost certainly a world record. If any ticket has been more expensive it likely wasn’t public knowledge.

The VIP ticket was sold through a charity auction and came with minimal perks. It was purchased by a Saudi Arabian real estate magnate and the bidding began at just 1 million Saudi riyals ($266,000).

Bidding quickly got out of control by normal standards. And when the final gavel was struck, the Saudi real estate magnate had paid $2.6 million for the VIP ticket. After winning, the Sheikh told him “Congratulations, you deserve it, and may God reward you with good.”

Surely he got some awesome perks for $2.6 million, right?

According to Al Jazeera, the “special ticket that would come with perks like photo opportunities with players and access to the locker rooms.”

For what it’s worth, I got to go on the field for El Clasico Miami and watch Ronaldo and Messi warm up while being 50 feet away from them and take pictures and it was all free.

I’m not saying this isn’t the experience of a lifetime for whoever spent $2.6 million, I’m sure it is. But it’s also likely that spending $2.6 million was as much about gaining attention amongst peers as anything.

In all likelihood, this is the last time soccer fans will get to see a Lionel Messi face-off against Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi turns 36 this Summer and Ronaldo is about to turn 38 in February. They play competitive soccer on different continents and the once greatest rivalry in sports from their La Liga days is no more.

The match is taking place as I’m writing this. As things stand, the ‘Riyadh Season Team’ is tied with PSG at 2-2. Messi and Ronaldo have combined for 3 of the 4 goals. The game can be watched here: