Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has announced that they will be facing off against a composite team featuring players from Al Nassr and Al Hilal in a friendly match on January 19th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This match will mark Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut in Saudi Arabia and will pit him against his long-time rival, Lionel Messi, of PSG. Qatar-owned PSG will be making the trip to Saudi Arabia for a two-day visit, which also includes a stop in Doha for promotional activities with their Qatari sponsors.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been two of the most dominant and influential figures in the world of soccer over the last 15 years. Their incredible skill, talent, and dedication to the sport have resulted in them winning the Ballon d’Or, an award recognizing the best player in the world, 12 times between them.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi
The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi began to take shape when they were both playing in Spain, with Ronaldo representing Real Madrid and Messi representing Barcelona. During their time in Spain, the two players faced each other in numerous matches, with their clubs being fierce rivals. This intense competition between two of the greatest players of all time is what has made their rivalry so compelling and is why it continues to be followed by fans around the world.
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During this period, They broke records and pushed each other to the limit, both with their respective clubs and the national teams. They regularly competed for the title of the top goal scorer in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, and their individual awards and team achievements were always compared.
Messi and Ronaldo’s skills and goals have always enthralled the crowd and the competition between them only intensified the excitement. The competition they have given each other has helped them to become the best version of themselves and it will be a historical moment when they will be on the field together again, in the upcoming friendly match in Saudi Arabia.
Ban on Cristiano Ronaldo
In November of 2022, Ronaldo and Manchester United mutually agreed to part ways, making the Portuguese forward a free agent. He will be making his debut for his new club, Al Nassr, when they face off against Ettifaq in the Saudi Arabian top league on January 22nd.
However, in order to comply with world football regulations, the 37-year-old superstar must first serve a two-match ban imposed by the English Football Association. The suspension is a result of an incident in April of the previous year, in which Ronaldo had snatched a fan’s mobile phone while leaving the field after a game against Everton.
As the world of football witnesses the latest, and possibly final, stage of Ronaldo’s illustrious career, it comes just weeks after Portugal’s elimination from the World Cup quarterfinals in Qatar, where Lionel Messi led Argentina to victory and lifted the trophy.
Ronaldo’s new team, Al Nassr, who are nine-time champions of the Saudi league, have dubbed his signing as a “historic moment” and believes that his arrival will not only elevate the performance of the team but also inspire the rest of the league and the country.
