Inter Miami CF to clash with Al Nassr in Riyadh Season Cup featuring Messi, Ronaldo

Posted : 22 November 2023

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are poised for another on-field encounter as Inter Miami CF, part of Major League Soccer (MLS), is set to face Saudi club Al Nassr in the Riyadh Season Cup friendly scheduled for February 2024 in Riyadh.

The event, named "The Last Dance," will take place at the Kingdom Arena, although exact dates have not been confirmed. Neymar's Al Hilal completes the three-team tournament, but the Brazilian is unlikely to participate due to an ACL tear last month.

The Riyadh Season Cup is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to become a significant player in world football by attracting some of the sport's biggest names. Despite the Kingdom's attempts, Messi chose MLS over a move to Saudi Arabia when he departed Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the previous season. The last time Messi and Ronaldo faced off was at the Riyadh Season Cup on January 19, 2023, with PSG winning the match 5-4.

Messi, who led Argentina to victory in the last World Cup, has already secured his first trophy with Inter Miami by winning the Leagues Cup in August. Both Messi and Ronaldo, widely regarded as two of the greatest players of all time, have left European football but remain ambitious to add to their legacies. Ronaldo has guided Portugal to qualify for the upcoming European Championship, while Messi aims to retain the Copa América for Argentina.

Sadio Mané has also joined Al Nassr as part of Saudi Arabia's strategy to attract more star players. Despite Neymar's recovery from surgery, Al Hilal is expected to feature Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in their lineup. The Riyadh Season Cup, scheduled for the first week of February at Kingdom Arena, will see the three teams compete in a round-robin tournament.

Inter Miami's sporting director, Chris Henderson, stated that preseason plans were not yet finalized. The club is expected to resume training in the second week of January, anticipating the MLS season's commencement in late February.

Henderson noted that the team might need four to six preseason matches split between the U.S. and overseas. The club, which did not embark on international tours in its first three seasons, has gained global attention with the addition of Messi, leading to new opportunities for international tours and preseason matches.

Inter Miami CF to clash with Al Nassr in Riyadh Season Cup featuring Messi, Ronaldo

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