BARRIO – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are considered two of the greatest soccer players of all time, and a Saudi Arabian real estate magnate reportedly paid $2.6 million for a VIP ticket to a match between Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain and a team consisting of players from Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and Al Hilal. 

The exhibition will be held at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on Thursday. It will mark the Saudi Pro League debut of Ronaldo, 37, who signed with Al Nassr late last month on a contract worth approximately $200 million annually. 

To build excitement for the match, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Entertainment Turki al-Sheikh announced a charity auction for a “Beyond Imagination” ticket. This ticket would allow the winning fan to attend the opening ceremony, access the team locker rooms, and meet players such as Ronaldo, Messi, and PSG’s Kylian Mbappé.

Bidding for the “Beyond Imagination” ticket reportedly began at 1 million Saudi riyals ($266,000) before closing at 10 million riyals ($2.6 million). The proceeds, al-Sheikh said, will go to the Saudi charity Ehsan. 

PSG will broadcast the game on its social media platforms – Facebook, YouTube, Twitch – and its website. It will also be available via beIN Sports.