Messi Shatters Saudi Stereotypes as Corruption Rages in Iran

A video featuring Argentinian football star Lionel Messi that was posted on his Instagram page has garnered notable attention among Iranians.

Comments from Iranian social media users regarding the clip aiming to challenge stereotypes in Saudi Arabia were saturated with anger, disdain and resentment toward the Islamic Republic.

According to media reports, the football player has entered into a three-year contract with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, serving as its "tourism ambassador." 

The Guardian has estimated the value of this contract to be $25 million. 

Messi is set to receive approximately $8.3 million annually for his involvement in the tourism advertisement campaign promoting Saudi Arabia. 

This amount is equivalent to the contract signed in 2019 by Mehdi Taj, the president of the Islamic Republic's football federation, with Marc Wilmots to coach Iran's national team for less than 30 days.

Iranians expressed criticism at the huge amounts of money spent by the Islamic Republic to back proxy and militia groups, as well as embezzlement.

The video released by Messi is part of Saudi Arabia’s “Go Beyond What You Think” campaign aimed at dismantling “walls” of “misconception” and breaking “outdated stereotypes” about the kingdom.

The footage shows walls with statements about Saudi Arabia, which range from “closed culture” to “just a desert.” Messi is seen kicking a ball to the walls, which fall down to display images of activities in modern Saudi Arabia.

Media reports indicate that this advertising project is a pivotal component of a three-month campaign aimed at engaging a broad audience in Europe, China and India, under the banner "Welcome to Saudi Arabia." 

In 1972, Iran celebrated the 2500th anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire.

Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi, instead of inviting football players or Hollywood figures, gathered the highest officials and leaders from across the world in Persepolis. 

The cost, estimated at around $220 million, covered the attendance of 16 kings or emirs, 10 crown princes or princes, 24 presidents or prime ministers, and 10 vice presidents or governors.

The Fars news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has altered the budget figure without citing any news sources. 

It's worth noting that the budget allocated by the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development for the religious Arbaeen procession last year exceeded $70 million. 

However, other ministries, governorates, municipalities, and government institutions have not transparently disclosed the budgets allocated for the mourning march outside Iran's borders.

In a different report, Fars news agency referred to the 2,500-year celebrations as "poisoning," and described the presentation of Iran's history to the heads of states as "boring." 

Huge amounts of money from Iran's budget has been consumed by government officials in recent years. 

The corruption and embezzlement cases involving the Debsh Tea company or Mobarakeh Steel totalled $6 billion.

According to data published by IstiZada, a marketing agency that focuses on the Middle East and the Arabic-speaking world, Saudi Arabia's expenses for global advertising campaigns using social networks, sports and art celebrities amount to around $2.5 billion. 

It is projected that this cost will escalate to $3 billion by 2028.

The highest expenditure allocated by the Saudi government for promoting the country through renowned figures such as Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Hollywood and sports superstars, approximates just one of the revealed embezzlement cases in recent years of the Islamic Republic. 

In March 2022, Saudi media reported a staggering 3,000-percent surge in tourist attraction following the signing of a contract with the Portuguese star Ronaldo.

The Saudis have entrusted Messi with the task of challenging cultural, ideological, geographical and religious stereotypes, urging him to shatter these barriers in front of his 498 million followers on Instagram.