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BARCELONA: Barcelona will face Villarreal in Miami in a La Liga match on December 20, the Spanish top flight said Wednesday, making it the first European league fixture to be played abroad.
Earlier this week, European football governing body UEFA said they opposed the idea of games being played overseas but would permit it on an exceptional basis, along with a Serie A match in Australia in February between AC Milan and Como.
“With this match we take a historic step that projects La Liga and Spanish football into a new dimension,” said La Liga president Javier Tebas in a statement.
“We understand and respect the concerns that this decision may generate, but it is important to put it into context — it is a single match out of the 380 that make up the season.”
The game was due to be played at Villarreal’s home stadium but will now take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in the United States, in Florida.
Villarreal will take measures to compensate season ticket holders after the game was moved.
“Villarreal season ticket holders will be able to travel for free to the match, and those who choose not to travel to Miami will enjoy a 30 percent discount on their season ticket price as part of the measures designed to reward their support and loyalty,” said La Liga.
In September a total of 18 fan groups from both teams involved expressed their “complete opposition” to the match taking place abroad.
La Liga have attempted to play matches overseas dating back to 2017 but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) frequently resisted, despite hosting the Spanish Super Cup in �������� themselves.
Barcelona’s rivals Real Madrid have also expressed their disapproval at the decision to take a La Liga game abroad.
They said in August hosting the game in Miami would “alter the competitive balance” of the league and set an “unacceptable precedent.”

RIYADH: Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has become football’s first billionaire player, according to figures released Wednesday in the .

The 40-year-old Al-Nassr striker has been added to Bloomberg’s list of the world’s richest people, with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion.

The valuation includes his career earnings, endorsements, and investments.

Bloomberg reported that Ronaldo earned more than $550 million in salary between 2002 and 2023, alongside lucrative sponsorships, including his decade-long deal with Nike, worth almost $18 million annually.

Ronaldo joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in 2022, reportedly becoming the highest-paid footballer in history. His contract, originally set to expire in June 2025, was recently extended by two years in a deal reportedly worth more than $400 million, which will keep him at the Riyadh club beyond his 42nd birthday.

Bloomberg compared Ronaldo’s earnings to those of his long-time rival Lionel Messi, noting that the Argentina and Inter Miami forward has earned over $600 million in pre-tax salary during his career.

Messi, who has been on a guaranteed annual pay of $20 million since joining Inter Miami in 2023, roughly 10 percent of Ronaldo’s income during the same period, is set to receive a stake in the MLS club upon retirement.