Saudi businessman "Musherif Al-Ghamdi" has become the owner of the most expensive ticket in football history, purchasing a ticket valued "above imagination" to attend the match between the Saudi stars of Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal and the French team Paris Saint-Germain. Last Wednesday, Turki Al-Sheikh, a consultant in the Saudi Royal Court and Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, announced that Musherif Al-Ghamdi won the auction for the "above imagination" ticket after the amount reached 10 million Saudi riyals (approximately 2.7 million dollars), which will go to the charity platform Ihsan.
The "golden" ticket, dubbed "above imagination," granted Musherif Al-Ghamdi the opportunity for close viewing and to meet Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, who led the team of Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal stars, alongside Paris Saint-Germain featuring Argentine magician Lionel Messi, in the "Riyadh Season Cup" match held last Thursday evening at King Fahd International Stadium. The Saudi businessman also attended the championship ceremony and had the chance to enter the locker room to meet the stars of both teams, in addition to other privileges.
Al-Ghamdi expressed his gratitude in a tweet on Twitter, thanking Turki Al-Sheikh for the "above imagination" ticket, stating: "Thank you as vast as the sky: His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh @Turki_alalshikh for the prize of the above imagination ticket and for the hospitality and honor I received, and my thanks extend to: Mr. Faisal Baferta, Mr. Talal Al-Harithi, Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Hamoud, Mr. Firas Al-Moathen, who are great support for Abu Nasser, and congratulations to the nation for having such stars."
In his first comment after winning the auction, Musherif Al-Ghamdi confirmed that he bought the ticket, despite its high price, responding to the "charitable aspect related to it." He added in an interview with the "In the Net" program on Al-Arabiya channel that he began enjoying its benefits when attending the dinner hosted by Turki Al-Sheikh for the presidents of Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal clubs, as well as the players of the Riyadh Season team and their coaching and technical staff.
He continued: "I entered the auction because it was charitable, and the idea was very clever... When I entered, the highest bid had reached 9 million before I got the ticket for 10 million riyals." He added: “I attended the dinner held by the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and I will be present at the match... I did not consult anyone in deciding to enter the ticket auction, it was an individual decision."
Who is Musherif Al-Ghamdi, the owner of the "Above Imagination" ticket? His full name is Musherif bin Ahmed Al-Mudeis Al-Ghamdi, born on February 12, 1968. He is a Saudi businessman, Chairman of Real Estate 1 Companies, Chairman of Innovate Information Technology Company, Chairman of Jeddah Real Estate Company, and former Vice Chairman of the Real Estate Committee.
