Sports
Saudi Arabia’s lavish recruitment drive rolls on despite Messi miss
Saudi Arabia’s lavish recruitment drive rolls on despite Messi miss
Missing out on Lionel Messi hasn’t slowed Saudi Arabia’s ambitious recruitment drive as the oil-rich kingdom tries to establish itself as a viable destination for the world’s top players.
Having already lured two of the sport’s biggest stars in Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, the Saudis, amid allegations of sportswashing, are targeting a host of other high-profile players from Europe’s best leagues.
World Cup and Champions League winner N’Golo Kante became the latest stellar player to head to the lucrative Pro League, signing a three-year contract Wednesday to team up with Benzema at Al-Ittihad.
“It is part of the club’s efforts to establish itself as a top choice for world-class players in the Saudi Professional League,” Al-Ittihad said in a statement.
Messi opted for Inter Miami, rather than the Middle East, but the Saudis are pressing on. Premier League stars like Hakim Ziyech, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Neves are expected to follow Kante this summer.
Chelsea had offered Kante a new contract to stay at Stamford Bridge. But just as Real Madrid discovered in the case of world player of the year Benzema, money talks. France midfielder Kante is reportedly set to earn more than $100 million across the length of his contract.
Benzema will reportedly earn $107 million per year over his three-year contract.
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Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December in a deal reportedly worth up to $200 million a year.
At the time of that stunning move, it was not clear what Saudi’s plan was beyond using Ronaldo’s fame to raise the profile of its league. It has since become evident that the former Madrid and Manchester United forward was just the start of a recruitment drive that the country hopes will turn its league into a major player in the sport.
Currently, the Saudi league is considered well below the standard of the top divisions in Europe and South America.
Ronaldo dismissed criticism of his decision, claiming in January the league is “very competitive.”
“People don’t know that, but I know because I saw many games,” he said. “In Europe my work is done. I won everything and played for the most important clubs in Europe. This is a new challenge.”
It is impossible to ignore the riches on offer as a major motivation to players.
The reported salaries and commercial deals for Ronaldo, Benzema and Kante could earn them a combined figure of nearly $1 billion.
Other countries have embarked on similar projects in the past.
Major League football in America has consistently signed big names like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and now Messi. Before that, the North American football League — most notably the New York Cosmos — enticed superstars like Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore and George Best.
China went on a similar spree from 2015, signing internationals like Carlos Tevez, Pato and Hulk, but that initiative has fizzled out.
It looks like this is just the start of Saudi’s plans to grow the profile and quality of its league, while expanding its influence in global sport.
The kingdom’s sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund has taken a majority ownership stake in four of the country’s top clubs, including Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, as part of a nationalization project encouraging public sector organizations to invest in sports. Football teams are seen as a priority under the initiative backed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
PIF is described as a “catalyst of Vision 2030,” which is a wide-ranging plan to overhaul the kingdom’s economy.
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The fund is worth around $700 billion and has already backed the takeover of Premier League club Newcastle and the launch of the contentious LIV Golf tour, which is merging with the PGA tour.
Saudi Arabia has also staged two heavyweight title fights involving Anthony Joshua, hosts Formula One racing and the Italian and Spanish Super Cups. There is also speculation that the country wants to host the 2030 men’s football World Cup.
The focus on sport has led to accusations of sportswashing — an effort to rebrand its public image in the face of its human rights record.
Football is already hugely popular in the country, with a television audience of more than 215 million watching its league in 2021-22, according to official statistics. More than 1.25 million attended matches during that campaign.
The demand for international broadcast rights could grow as a result of more top players joining the league.
While Saudi football should benefit from an influx of talent, Premier League clubs, in particular, look set to cash in.
England’s top-flight teams have found it increasingly difficult to offload unwanted players due to the high salaries they pay. Only a limited number of European clubs can match or better the contracts on offer in England, meaning a number of players have had to be sent out on loan, rather than sold.
Chelsea, which spent around $630 million last season, needs to reduce its squad this summer and it is notable that three of its players — Ziyech, Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy — have all been linked with moves to Saudi in addition to Kante.
Those potential deals have raised questions due to a reported connection between PIF and private investment firm Clearlake Capital, which was part of the consortium that bought Chelsea last year.
“The Premier League should put an instant embargo on transfers to Saudi Arabia to ensure the integrity of the game isn’t being damaged,” football pundit Gary Neville told the BBC. “Checks should be made on the appropriateness of the transactions.”
Chelsea players, however, appear to be a drop in the ocean as far as the scope of Saudi’s ambition and spending power is concerned.
Manchester United’s Alex Telles and Arsenal’s Thomas Partey are the latest names to be added to a list of targets that only looks set to grow.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Sports
Osimhen Among Highest-Paid African Footballers in 2026 — See Full List
Osimhen Among Highest-Paid African Footballers in 2026 — See Full List
The highest-paid African footballers in 2026 continue to earn staggering wages, with stars in the Saudi Pro League dominating the rankings due to lucrative contracts. From Riyad Mahrez to Mohamed Salah, African players remain among the top earners in global football, earning hundreds of thousands of pounds weekly.
Leading the list is Riyad Mahrez, who earns an estimated £827,000–£886,000 per week at Al-Ahli, making him the highest-paid African footballer. He is followed by Sadio Mané, who earns around £630,000–£680,000 weekly at Al-Nassr.
Defender Kalidou Koulibaly earns about £550,000–£590,000 weekly at Al-Hilal, making him the highest-paid African defender. In Europe, Mohamed Salah continues to command massive wages of £350,000–£400,000 per week at Liverpool FC.
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Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen earns between £250,000–£318,000 weekly at Galatasaray, making him one of the highest-paid Nigerian footballers.
Midfielder Franck Kessié and defender Achraf Hakimi both earn just over £220,000 per week, playing for Al-Ahli and Paris Saint-Germain respectively.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy earns up to £200,000 weekly, while Iñaki Williams takes home about £180,000 per week at Athletic Bilbao. Veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completes the list with weekly earnings of £150,000–£160,000 at Al-Qadsiah.
Top 10 Highest-Paid African Footballers (2026) – Weekly Salaries
| Rank | Player | Club | Weekly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riyad Mahrez | Al-Ahli | £827,000 – £886,000 |
| 2 | Sadio Mané | Al-Nassr | £630,000 – £680,000 |
| 3 | Kalidou Koulibaly | Al-Hilal | £550,000 – £590,000 |
| 4 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool FC | £350,000 – £400,000 |
| 5 | Victor Osimhen | Galatasaray | £250,000 – £318,000 |
| 6 | Franck Kessié | Al-Ahli | £220,000 – £233,000 |
| 7 | Achraf Hakimi | Paris Saint-Germain | £220,000 – £227,000 |
| 8 | Edouard Mendy | Al-Ahli | £170,000 – £200,000 |
| 9 | Iñaki Williams | Athletic Bilbao | ~£180,000 |
| 10 | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Al-Qadsiah | £150,000 – £160,000 |
The rankings underline the growing dominance of the Saudi Pro League, which now offers significantly higher wages than most European leagues, attracting top African talent. Only a few players, such as Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi, remain among the top earners in Europe.
Osimhen Among Highest-Paid African Footballers in 2026 — See Full List
Sports
Adesanya Vows to Fight On Despite Fourth Straight Defeat
Adesanya Vows to Fight On Despite Fourth Straight Defeat
Nigerian-born mixed martial artist Israel Adesanya has reaffirmed his determination to continue competing at the highest level, insisting that recent setbacks will not define his legacy.
Adesanya suffered another defeat in the octagon on Saturday night, losing to American contender Joe Pyfer via second-round technical knockout at a UFC Fight Night event in Seattle.
The contest began on a promising note for the former middleweight champion, who displayed his signature precision and movement in the opening round. Adesanya controlled the distance effectively and dictated the pace of exchanges, raising hopes of a return to winning form.
However, the tide turned in the second round as Pyfer absorbed the early pressure and began to assert his physical advantage. The American closed the distance with powerful strikes before securing a crucial takedown. From a dominant position on the ground, he mounted Adesanya and unleashed a series of heavy blows, forcing referee Herb Dean to stop the fight.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Pyfer, while extending a challenging run for Adesanya, who has now suffered four consecutive losses. His recent defeats include bouts against Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and Nassourdine Imavov.
Despite growing concerns about his future in the middleweight division, the 36-year-old remained defiant in his post-fight comments, emphasizing his unwavering fighting spirit.
“I’ll keep coming back again and again. I’m not leaving this sport. You can’t stop me,” Adesanya declared, adding that defeat would not diminish his enduring belief in himself.
While questions continue to mount over his next steps, Adesanya’s resolve suggests he is far from ready to step away from the sport that has defined his career.
Adesanya Vows to Fight On Despite Fourth Straight Defeat
Sports
Super Eagles Edge Iran 2–1 in Antalya Friendly
Super Eagles Edge Iran 2–1 in Antalya Friendly
Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, began their March international break on a winning note with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Iran in an international friendly at the Antalya Stadium in Turkey on Friday, March 27.
The three-time African champions made a bright start, asserting their dominance early in the encounter. Winger Moses Simon opened the scoring in the sixth minute after latching onto a swift counterattack, evading his marker before slotting a low shot into the bottom-left corner.
Nigeria continued to press forward, creating several chances and maintaining control for much of the first half, though they were unable to extend their lead before the break.
The Super Eagles doubled their advantage shortly after the restart. In the 51st minute, Ademola Lookman provided a precise through pass to Akor Adams, who calmly finished to make it 2–0.
Head coach Eric Chelle utilized the friendly to test new options, handing debuts to Emmanuel Fernandez and Chibuike Nwaiwu, who came on for Semi Ajayi and Igoh Ogbu respectively. Later substitutions saw Paul Onuachu, Chidera Ejuke and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru introduced in place of Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon and Akor Adams, while Frank Onyeka also featured late on.
Iran reduced the deficit in the closing stages, setting up a nervy finish, but Nigeria held firm to secure the victory.
The match marked Nigeria’s first outing since finishing third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and comes after the disappointment of missing out on World Cup qualification following a penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo.
Friday’s encounter was only the third meeting between both nations. Nigeria previously defeated Iran in a 1998 friendly, while their group-stage clash at the 2014 FIFA World Cup ended in a goalless draw.
The Super Eagles will now shift focus to their next friendly fixture against Jordan on Tuesday, also scheduled to take place in Turkey.
Super Eagles Edge Iran 2–1 in Antalya Friendly
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