Lionel Messi Added to Inter Miami Bench in Late Change Moments Before Kick-Off Against Al Nassr

Lionel Messi was a late inclusion on the Inter Miami bench for Thursday's exhibition game against Al Nassr. Cristiano Ronaldo missed out with a calf injury.

Lionel Messi was a late addition to the Inter Miami bench for Thursday's exhibition game against Al Nassr.

The event had been billed as the 'Last Dance' between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but it looked as though neither player would feature when the teams were first announced.

Ronaldo had been ruled out 24 hours before kick-off due to the calf injury that saw Al Nassr cancel two games in China last week.

Messi was then initially omitted from the Miami squad list completely amid reports of discomfort in his hamstring.

However, the 36-year-old Argentina star was added to Miami's list of substitutes just 10 minutes before the game got underway.

Messi would eventually make a late cameo after coming on as an 83rd-minute sub.

Lionel Messi was initially omitted from Inter Miami's squad for Thursday's game against Al Nassr before later being named on the bench :: IMAGO/Icon Sportswire/Nick Tre. Smith

Although neither Messi nor Ronaldo started the game, both sides still fielded multiple familiar faces.

Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba all started for Miami, while the Al Nassr XI included Aymeric Laporte, Alex Telles and Marcelo Brozovic.

Laporte stole the show in the 12th minute when he scored from 70 yards with a remarkable free-kick.

Al Nassr went on to win 6-0, with Talisca bagging a hat-trick.

This was Miami's fourth pre-season fixture of 2024. Messi and Co lost 4-3 to Al-Hilal on Monday. That followed a 0-0 draw with El Salvador and a 1-0 defeat by FC Dallas.