December 12, (THEWILL) – Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will face off once more when Major League Soccer club Inter Miami CF take on Saudi teams Al-Hilal and Al Nassr in January 2023. The matches are part of the Riyadh Season Cup exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Inter Miami confirmed that they will play Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal on January 29 at Riyadh’s King Fahd International Stadium. They will follow that up against Al Nassr, featuring former Real Madrid star Ronaldo, on February 1 at the same venue. “We are excited to connect with new supporters in Saudi Arabia, and also hope people all over the world will be tuning in to see a pair of dream matches like these,” said Inter Miami Chief Business Officer, Xavier Asensi.
The two high-profile friendlies come just weeks after Inter Miami denied earlier reports of their participation. They represent an important pre-season test for the MLS club ahead of their 2023 campaign. “These matches will offer important tests for our team, which will benefit us as we approach the new season,” said Miami’s Chief Soccer Officer, Chris Henderson.
Ronaldo and Messi last faced each other in January 2023 when Paris Saint-Germain took on a Saudi all-star team including the Portuguese striker. Both players found the net in a 5-4 PSG victory. Their storied rivalry has seen them clash 36 times at club and international level over the years, with Messi narrowly leading the head-to-head 16 wins to 10 losses.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in recent years to host major sporting events and attract global superstars like Ronaldo to their domestic League. The two January friendlies will attract worldwide attention as fans revel in seeing these two titans of the modern game renew their iconic sports rivalry.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
