Lionel Messi, Inter Miami Set to Face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in February
For the first time since joining Inter Miami, Lionel Messi is scheduled to go head-to-head with longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo if plans go ahead for the MLS side meets Al Nassr in a February match dubbed “The Last Dance.”
Organizers of the Riyadh Season Cup announced the sides will face off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as part of the three-team tournament that also features Saudi club Al Hilal.
However, after the organizers’ announcement Tuesday, Inter Milan denied that it had an agreement in place for the tournament, saying it was still planning the club’s first international tour ahead of its first full MLS season with Messi.
“Earlier today, an announcement was issued stating that Inter Miami CF is scheduled to play in the Riyadh Season Cup,” the club said in a statement. “This is inaccurate. The release included statements attributed to team owner Jorge Mas. Mas has made no comments, publicly or privately, in relation to the preseason tour.”
Messi and Ronaldo both scored in their last meeting in January, 5–4 PSG win over Al Nassr.
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After debuting for Inter Miami in July, Messi went on to record 11 goals and four assists in 15 matches during an injury-plagued campaign. While Inter Miami finished second to last in the Eastern Conference, the club took home the inaugural Leagues Cup while Messi became the first MLS player to win the Ballon d’Or.
Before heading to Miami, Messi reportedly rejected offers of roughly $400 million a year to play in the Saudi league, instead opting for an MLS deal that included a league-record salary and reported revenue shares with adidas and Apple TV.
Messi and Ronaldo last faced each other in the last edition of the tournament. In January, Messi’s PSG outlasted Al Nassr in a thrilling 5–4 match in Ronaldo’s first game since completing a shocking move from Manchester United, with both players contributing goals.
