Saudi Arabia Pays Lionel Messi $25 Million to Promote Tourism

Lionel Messi has signed a multimillion-dollar contract with Saudi Arabia's tourism authority to promote the country.
The contract includes a few commercial appearances, social media posts, and all-expenses-paid vacations to the kingdom with his family and children.
Messi could receive as much as 22.5 million euros, about $25 million, over three years for his role as a pitchman for Saudi Arabia.
The contract also contains a condition that Messi cannot say anything that might "tarnish" Saudi Arabia's image.
Saudi Arabia has spent billions to take big stakes in professional sports and enlist marquee athletes in its effort to burnish its global image.