Lionel Messi earned $122m last year. He still felt the need to take Saudi money | Karim Zidan

The Argentinian has a strong record of linking up with oppressive monarchies. He is fast becoming the posterboy for sportswashing

Less than a year after signing with Paris Saint-Germain - one of Qatar's most prominent sportswashing projects - Lionel Messi is now the face of yet another oppressive Middle Eastern monarchy.

The Argentinian was unveiled as the latest tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia during a trip to Jeddah, a port city along the Red Sea, on Monday.