Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (#10) controls the ball past New York City forward Julian Fernandez (R) during their Noche D’Or soccer match at the DRV PNK stadium in Fort Lauderdale, U.S., November 1, 2023. /CFP
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (#10) controls the ball past New York City forward Julian Fernandez (R) during their Noche D’Or soccer match at the DRV PNK stadium in Fort Lauderdale, U.S., November 1, 2023. /CFP
Inter Miami on Monday confirmed details of two upcoming friendlies in Saudi Arabia next year which will include a showdown between Lionel Messi and old rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) club had already announced plans for the team to face Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in Riyadh, without confirming a date.
Inter said on Monday the team would take on Saudi powerhouses Al-Hilal at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on January 29.
Cristiano Ronaldo (C) of Al-Nassr vies for the ball with Fawaz Al-Sagour of Al-Shabab during the King Cup quarterfinal at the Al-Shabab Club stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 11, 2023. /CFP
Cristiano Ronaldo (C) of Al-Nassr vies for the ball with Fawaz Al-Sagour of Al-Shabab during the King Cup quarterfinal at the Al-Shabab Club stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 11, 2023. /CFP
They will then face Al-Nassr at the same venue on February 1, giving Messi the chance to lock horns once again with Ronaldo in the latest installment of a rivalry that has spanned decades stretching back to their first meeting in 2008.
“These matches will offer important tests for our team, which will benefit us as we approach the new season,” said Chris Henderson, Miami’s chief soccer officer and sporting director.
Miami will travel to China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region following the Saudi Arabia games to play a team made up from China’s First Division on February 4.
The team will then head back to the U.S. for the start of the MLS season later in February.
Source(s): AFP