Recent reports have highlighted a Saudi lucrative offer to the Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo to get him to promote tourism in the Kingdom for millions of dollars every year. However, Ronaldo has reportedly declined the generous offer.
Brave Cristiano Ronaldo rejects €6million-a-year offer to become the face of Saudi Arabian tourism.
— Rula Jebreal (@rulajebreal) January 26, 2021
MBS’ #DavosForDictators is simply a diversion strategy, meant to distract from his butchery.
Wall Street is a willing accomplice in laundering a murderous dictator’s reputation. pic.twitter.com/FQJemtozJj
According to several sources, Ronaldo was offered more than $7 million USD in exchange for a number of public visits to the country, through which tourism in Saudi can be promoted amongst the millions of fans the Juventus superstar has.
Ronaldo, who is followed by 257 million people on Instagram and 124 million on Facebook has just become the world's highest-scoring footballer in history. Yet, he has reportedly turned down the Saudi offer.
In response to the news, many social media users "saluted" his position, saying that it "speaks of his values" as they assumed he "refuses to whitewash human rights violations" Saudi hopes to overcome in the coming years, particularly criticism over its approach to political dissidents, activists, journalists, in addition to its role in the war in Yemen.
Cristiano Ronaldo rejects £5.3million-a-year offer to become the face of Saudi Arabian tourism
— Lina Alhathloul لينا الهذلول (@LinaAlhathloul) January 23, 2021
Thank you @Cristiano ❤️ #FreeLoujain #JusticeForJamal #StandWithSaudiHeroes #YemenCantWait https://t.co/wEQ5hQizUk
A man of principles https://t.co/hPr9L6jSRs
— Elton⚔Joker??? (@Eltnist) January 26, 2021
Meanwhile, no official statements have commented on the matter or on whether or not Ronaldo's decision was taken due to political stances.
The Daily Mail has reported that Ronaldo's most famous rival, the Argentinean Lionel Messi has received a similar offer from Saudi, but didn't provide details on the outcome of the Saudi-Messi talks so far.
Over the last several years, Saudi has had successfully attracted the attention of international celebrities in the entertainment industry to promote tourism in the country, at a time many social reforms have been announced, relaxing some of the country's most strict norms, such as allowing women to drive, after years of calls by women activists and organizations.
