Messi and Benzema, Saudis and Soccer, Bread and Circuses

Soccer is the ultimate prize in Saudi Arabia’s push in sports. Karim Benzema’s signing offered a glimpse of the price tag. Lionel Messi’s rejection showed its limits.

source https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/09/sports/soccer/lionel-messi-karim-benzema-saudi-arabia.html