CELEBRITY
Ageing stars drawn to Gulf for one last payday
Since Brazilian legend Rivelino joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in the late 1970s the Gulf region has become a lucrative haven as a final staging post for ageing stars.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who signed a two-year contract with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr last Friday, is by far the biggest catch for the oil and gas-rich Gulf states.
With his earnings estimated at more than €200 million (S$280 million), the 37-year-old Portuguese forward is the latest in a long line of greats that have opted for quantity over quality: forsaking Europe’s elite leagues for a final huge payday.
However, if Al Nassr fans’ expectations are high they might be tempered by many examples – Brazil 1994 World Cup winners Romario and Bebeto in particular – of those who came, but failed to stay long or provide value for money for the wages they earned.
Rivelino did give it his all as he brought the curtain down on his 16-year career with Al-Hilal.
One of the stars of the 1970 World Cup-winning Brazil team, Rivelino brought global football attention to the kingdom for the first time.
He left his mark by winning the Saudi Professional League title, and scoring 39 goals.
The same year Rivelino joined Al-Hilal, his compatriot, Carlos Alberto Parreira made his way to Kuwait which then qualified for the 1982 World Cup – the only time the country has done so.
UAE push
In 1998, Al Nassr launched its own bid to attract top talent by signing Hristo Stoichkov, widely regarded as the greatest Bulgarian football player of all time.
Though his Saudi Arabia stint was short, Stoichkov helped Al Nassr lift the Asian Cup Winners Cup that season.
He was one of many who made cameo appearances for Saudi clubs.
Brazilian superstar and 1994 World Cup winner Bebeto only played five matches – scoring just one goal – before retiring in 2002.
Denilson, another Brazilian star who was once the most expensive player in the sport, played with Al Nassr for only two months in 2007.
Looking enviously on, the United Arab Emirates decided to take action and followed suit.
Liberian George Weah, 1995 Ballon d’Or winner, played with Abu Dhabi’s Al Jazira club for two seasons between 2001 and 2003.
Fabio Cannavaro, who led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, joined the Al-Ahli club in Dubai for one season in 2011.
Qatar bid
Between 2003 and 2004, eventual World Cup hosts Qatar entered the fray by signing more than 30 international players.
These included French defenders Frank Leboeuf and Marcel Desailly, as well as Spain’s Pep Guardiola and Fernando Hierro, in addition to Argentina’s Gabriel Batistuta, who scored a record-breaking 25 goals in his first season with the Al-Arabi club.
That same season, Qatar’s top club – Al-Sadd – signed a 100-day contract valued at US$1.5 million with Brazilian legend Romario.
The former Barcelona star failed to score in the three matches he appeared in.
Al-Sadd’s more successful snatches include Spaniard Raul, who joined in 2012 and clinched the Qatar League title in his first season.
Al-Sadd then signed a contract with Spaniard Xavi in the summer of 2015 following his triumphant spell with Barcelona.
Xavi did not disappoint.
During his four seasons as a player, he won many local titles, most notably the Qatar league, which he also won again as a coach before he left in late 2021.
–AFP
The legacy of Brazilian football legend Pelé has taken a new turn after Neymar Santos Sr, father of Brazil star Neymar Jr, confirmed the acquisition of the commercial rights to Pelé’s name and image through his agency, NR Sports.
Speaking at the Pelé Museum in Santos, Brazil, Neymar Sr said the deal marks a new chapter for one of the most iconic brands in global sport.
“We are proud. I think it’s a very strong brand. We want to strengthen its identity and adapt it to the current era,” he said, describing the project as deeply emotional and nationally significant.
Although financial details were not officially disclosed, Brazilian media estimate the acquisition at around $18 million. The rights had previously belonged to US-based company Sport 10, which many in Brazil accused of underdeveloping a national treasure.
A ‘Repatriation’ of Pelé’s Legacy
NR Sports described the agreement as a “repatriation” of Pelé’s brand—bringing back to Brazil “one of the greatest symbols in the history of world sport.”
Pelé’s daughter, Flavia, attended the announcement and welcomed the move, saying the family had tried—and failed—to reacquire the rights after Pelé’s death in 2022.
“There are no words to describe the emotion of bringing back a brand that embodies soul, humanity, and love. It’s priceless,” she told AFP.
The unveiling was accompanied by an emotional tribute at the Pelé Museum, which erected a massive green screen with Pelé’s iconic logo. A video shared on Pelé’s and NR Sports’ official accounts celebrated the “universal language” of Brazilian football, showing some of the King’s most memorable goals from his World Cup triumphs in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
Neymar Jr: ‘Pelé Was Born to Change Everything’
Neymar Jr, who recently returned to Pelé’s former club Santos and has surpassed the King as Brazil’s all-time top scorer, featured in a promotional video congratulating his father’s company.
“Some are born to play, others are born to change the game. Pelé was born to change everything,” the 33-year-old forward said. “Pelé never stopped being one of us, and now he is officially part of Brazil, again and forever.”
A New Era for an Underused Global Brand
For years, Pelé’s image rights were more prominently exploited abroad than at home—a situation that drew criticism from the family and Brazilian football circles. The new deal is expected to revitalise the Pelé brand through modern marketing, partnerships, and heritage initiatives anchored in Brazil.
“This is the beginning of a motivating project for us. We are very moved,” Neymar Sr added.
Pelé, who died in December 2022 at age 82, remains an enduring symbol in Santos, São Paulo state, where he played from 1956 to 1974 and where thousands still visit his mausoleum.
With the rights now back in Brazilian hands, NR Sports says the goal is clear: preserve, expand, and enrich the legacy of the King of Football for generations to come.
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Lionel Messi expressed his wish to one day return to Barcelona’s Camp Nou on Monday, having made a brief visit to see the newly revamped stadium where he spent 21 years of his illustrious career.
The 38-year-old Argentine World Cup winner, who joined Barca’s youth academy at age 13 and went on to become the club’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances, left the Catalan side in 2021 when they could not make it financially viable to keep him.
Having won 10 LaLiga titles, four Champions League crowns and three Club World Cups with Barca, Messi now plays for Inter Miami after two years with Paris St Germain.
Barca reopened the Camp Nou on Friday, 895 days after its closure, unveiling a revamped stadium by staging an open training session attended by 21,795 fans.
“Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart. A place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel a thousand times like the happiest person in the world,” the eight-times Ballon d’Or winner wrote on Instagram on Monday.
“I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do.”
Messi extended his contract with Inter Miami in October, and has previously said that the Major League Soccer club would likely be his last.
“You’re always welcome at your home, Leo,” Barca posted on X.
-Reuters
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Argentina has paid a powerful tribute to its greatest football icon, Diego Armando Maradona, by unveiling a special commemorative silver coin celebrating both the late legend’s 65th birthday and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The coin, released on October 30 — the date that would have marked Maradona’s 65th birthday — honours his unforgettable solo goal against England in the 1986 World Cup, often described as “the goal of the century.”
The Central Bank of Argentina announced that the limited-edition coin features a football motif on one side, while the reverse captures Maradona’s legendary dribble from his own half, past five English defenders, before coolly slotting the ball home in Mexico City.
That match, etched in global memory, also produced another of football’s most talked-about moments — the “Hand of God” goal, scored just minutes earlier. Together, those two goals defined not only a game but an era, as Maradona led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, their second in history.
“This coin immortalizes a symbol of Argentine pride — a goal that transcended sport to become a moment of national identity,” said the Central Bank in a statement.
The release is also timed to build excitement ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada — marking 40 years since Maradona’s most celebrated tournament.
Maradona, who passed away in 2020, remains one of football’s most revered figures. His blend of artistry, audacity, and passion continues to inspire generations of players and fans alike.
Across Argentina, tributes poured in from fans, clubs, and former teammates, with many visiting murals, statues, and shrines dedicated to the No.10. In Buenos Aires, street musicians played “Live is Life” — the anthem that once accompanied Maradona’s famous pre-match warm-up routine at Napoli — as a reminder of his enduring magic.
For Argentina, this special-edition coin is more than a collector’s item; it is a national homage to an eternal legend, a man whose left foot and spirit still define the heartbeat of Argentine football.
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