It’s Messi vs. Ronaldo again in unlikely Saudi reunion

One of the best rivalries in soccer historical past is about to renew on the unlikely venue of Riyadh’s King Fahd International Stadium.

The stage is about Thursday for Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo when Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain takes on a mixed XI of Saudi Arabian groups Al Nassr and Al Hilal in an exhibition match.

Riyadh is the place Ronaldo has determined to base probably the ultimate years of his storied profession after signing a deal value a reported $200 million-a-year to affix Al Nassr.

The recreation in opposition to Messi and PSG presents a reminder of the Portugal worldwide’s glory days earlier than Ronaldo focuses on Al Nassr’s home title problem and bid to qualify for the Asian Champions League.

The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry was by no means higher than once they performed for Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, and their scoring feats noticed the gamers dominate Spanish and European soccer.

The showdown with Messi in these circumstances would have been unthinkable only a 12 months in the past when Ronaldo was nonetheless scoring with regularity for an albeit struggling Manchester United staff.

Messi and Ronaldo have skilled vastly differing fortunes over the past 12 months. Messi lastly received the World Cup with Argentina in December. Ronaldo was dropped by membership and nation, had his United contract terminated and ultimately joined Al Nassr in probably the most shocking strikes in soccer historical past.

It might be Ronaldo’s first motion in Saudi Arabia after serving a two-match suspension issued by the English Football Association for slapping a cell phone out of the hand of a fan after a match between Man United and Everton final April.

His debut for Saudi league chief Al Nassr is about for Sunday in opposition to Ettifaq.

Ronaldo won’t be brief on motivation when arising in opposition to Messi and an all-star PSG staff which might additionally embody Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

He has already been handed his trademark No. 7 shirt and the armband in what seems like a becoming method to kick off his newest journey.

It might be an opportunity to make a press release in opposition to among the greatest gamers on this planet, versus who he’ll face within the Saudi league, which represents a step down after his profession in elite European soccer.

The 37-year-old ahead, who was offered to Al Nassr’s supporters to nice fanfare earlier this month, is dealing with questions over his means to rediscover his kind after a disappointing first half of the season for United and an underwhelming World Cup.

Ronaldo managed solely three objectives in 16 appearances for United earlier than his explosive interview with Piers Morgan, through which he criticized supervisor Erik ten Hag and the membership’s house owners, led to the termination of his contract.

With a chance to place himself available on the market on the World Cup, he was dropped by Portugal as his nation suffered a shock elimination by Morocco within the quarterfinals and sure ended his final probability of successful the one main trophy that has eluded him. Ronaldo did turn out to be the primary males’s participant to attain at 5 totally different World Cups.

Messi can also be aiming to win back-to-back French league titles with PSG and will but lead the Paris membership to its first Champions League success.

While Ronaldo stated he rejected presents from around the globe to affix Al Nassr, it’s not identified if any curiosity got here from Europe’s largest golf equipment.

The Saudi transfer is prone to take him out of the highlight for the primary time since he established himself in his first spell at United in 2003.

The Riyadh Season Cup, which is at stake on Thursday, will no less than be a chance to showcase his expertise in a match prone to entice widespread curiosity given his rivalry with Messi as the 2 best gamers of their era. Between them they’ve shared 12 Ballon d’Or awards — Messi seven, Ronaldo 5.

Ronaldo has the sting within the Champions League, successful European membership soccer’s largest trophy 5 occasions, in comparison with Messi’s 4.

In whole they’ve received 56 main trophies between them, which has made it so tough to separate them when making an attempt to find out who’s the best of their era.

However, Messi’s inspirational performances in main Argentina to the World Cup trophy in Qatar in December strengthens his case to have the sting on his nice rival.

Nothing that occurs on Thursday in Riyadh is prone to transfer the dial both method on that argument. It might, nevertheless, supply Ronaldo the prospect to remind his doubters that he can nonetheless go toe-to-toe with Messi.