Saudi Arabian ambassador Lionel Messi is BOOED by Saudi fans during Argentina’s disastrous defeat

Saudi Arabian ambassador Lionel Messi suffered the embarrassment of being booed by fans of the country he promotes during Argentina’s embarrassing defeat on Tuesday.

Argentina lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening Group C match in Qatar in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

Messi had put his country ahead from the spot before Argentina had three goals disallowed for offside in the first half – with two goals from Lautaro Martinez and one finish from Messi disallowed.

Saudi Arabia then staged a stunning comeback in the second half courtesy of goals from Saleh Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari to secure a memorable win.

And Messi, who according to The athleticwho signed a lucrative £25 million a year deal to promote the kingdom in May this year was far from his best and was booed by Saudi Arabia fans during the clash.

To make matters worse, the defeat by the Arab state further embarrassed one of its own ambassadors.

The booing came after the aforementioned report in The Athletic revealed how Messi could reportedly find himself in the middle of a 2030 World Cup battle between his native Argentina and Saudi Arabia.

With the current World Cup in Qatar and the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the bids for the 2030 edition will open in June this year.

There is currently only one confirmed bid from Spain, Portugal and Ukraine, but two rival proposals are expected to be announced in the near future.

One is a South American joint initiative by Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile, while the other is a bid from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Greece.

The use of multiple countries is due to the World Cup becoming a 48-team tournament from the next edition in 2026, with the decision on who will host the 2030 edition being made in 2024.

The South American nations’ bid was first revealed in 2017 when, before a match between Argentina and Uruguay, Messi and his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez posed together before kick-off.

Suarez donned a number 20 Uruguay shirt, while Messi posed wearing an Argentina number 30 shirt – a show of solidarity between the countries regarding their World Cup opportunity.

With the pair two of the most iconic South American footballers of all time, it was believed they would play a major role in this potential bid.

Discussing South American efforts to host the tournament eight years from now, the coordinator Fernando Marin told The Athletic: “A South American bid for 2030 is very strong.

‘The region is a generator of talent that extends all over the world.

“Moreover, it would be an appropriate location on the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930.”

Moreover, in 2018, Marin had spoken about the role that one of the world’s greatest footballers would ever play within the bid. He told AFP: “Messi will join us in this initiative, and Suarez certainly will. We told him (Messi) about our goals, and he feels it’s achievable.

“He showed a great desire to help us. He will certainly be the flag bearer of the World Cup.’

However, questions arose in May 2022, when Messi then signed the reported lucrative £25 million a year deal to promote Saudi Arabia.

This agreement was mainly aimed at promoting tourism within the kingdom, but the country’s national target is linked to ‘Vision 2030’.

The 2030 Vision is described by the Saudi government as “a unique transformative blueprint for economic and social reform that opens up to the world.”

Much of this vision is said to be strongly linked to hosting the 2030 World Cup (in partnership with Greece and Egypt).

Promoting tourism in the country also contributes a lot to this whole strategy implemented by the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia’s involvement in sports has gradually increased in recent years. This can be seen with the acquisition of the PIF sovereign wealth fund in Newcastle, LIV Golf’s breakaway tour, along with hosting Formula 1 races and heavyweight boxing fights in the kingdom.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was also pictured sitting next to Fifa President Gianni Infantino during the opening World Cup match between Qatar and Ecuador on Sunday, while the pair chatted at the G20 summit in Bali last week – raising hopes that they might be successful in their bid for the 2030 World Cup.

Messi was first promoted as a tourism ambassador for the kingdom when he visited Jeddah in May.

Saudi tourism minister Ahmed al-Khateeb tweeted at the time: “This is not his first visit to the kingdom and it won’t be the last.” The Visit Saudi website now also has a dedicated Messi page.

The PSG star also has links to a Saudi figure named Turki Al-Sheikh, who is reportedly a close adviser to Mohamed bin Salman and the chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority.

Within this role, his job is to promote social and economic growth within Saudi Arabia.

Messi has sent messages to Al-Sheikh on social media and has even publicly wished him a happy birthday.

When contacted in the aforementioned report in The Athletic, Marin remained steadfast in his belief that Messi would still be a key figure in the South American bid for 2030.

He said: “Messi has a unique strength on and off the pitch. He has grown in a superlative way.

“Messi is a brand in itself and a very powerful brand. He is a brand for all of football, not for states. He will be a fundamental part of a South American bid for 2030.”

It remains to be seen how heavily he will be involved in a potential Saudi bid for the 2030 edition, but by promoting the country and tourism in particular, he has potential ties to a rival bid for his home country.