Lionel Messi taps the Saudi cash cow

While opting to play for Miami rather than Saudi Arabia, Lionel Messi still struck oil with the Arab country that is sportswashing its bloody image by paying famous athletes from all over the world.

Messi reportedly has a 3-year, €22.5 million contract with the country’s tourism agency to extol the delights of fabulous Saudi Arabia, to do and say little, but to endorse by his presence in videos and [huge!] social media posts promoting tourism there.

The essential condition stated in the contract?Messi can’t say anything that might tarnish Saudi Arabia’s pristine reputation.

… also cold-blooded murder of journalists.

In a sense, you’re right, with the roles just reversed: we’re all oil-dependent, so we pay them the money they can then use to pay athletes to sportswash their reputation.

… using cheap labor from outside the country, and ill-treating them, btw. If you’re not a Dubai citizen, you’re dirt.