Ronaldo-Messi rivalry: As Cristiano Ronaldo prepares for his first game in Saudi Arabia since joining Al Nassr, a new chapter in their storied rivalry will begin on Thursday when they square off in an exhibition match.
Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr after a successful career in Europe that included four Champions League titles with Real Madrid and two Scudettos at Juventus. He said it was the “perfect moment” to share his experience in Asia.
The forward has two stints with Manchester United, the last of which ended in bitterness when he was released after a contentious breakup with the club. Ronaldo’s career began in 2002 at Sporting CP.
For the first time since Juventus defeated Barcelona 3-0 in December 2020, the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry will square off on the field on Thursday. The two players have dominated the argument about who is the greatest player in the history of football for the better part of ten years.
While there is no real stake in the exhibition match between Ronaldo’s Riyadh ST XI and Messi’s Paris St. Germain, fans are nevertheless eager to see the two stars square off. The team is made up of players from Al Hilal and Al Nassr.
“Demand for VIP Tickets to Messi vs Ronaldo Match in Saudi Arabia Exceeds $2.66 Million”
Online ticket demand for the much awaited matchup, which will take place at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, reportedly exceeded two million.
An auction for VIP “Beyond Imagination” tickets for the game, scheduled to expire later on Tuesday, already surpassed 10 million riyals ($2.66 million) in prices.
The fact that Messi helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, the final title in his extensive trophy collection, has added to the game’s allure for spectators.
Ronaldo garnered attention throughout the competition by becoming the first player to score in five World Cups, but he became overcome with emotion after Morocco eliminated Portugal in the quarterfinals.
While Ronaldo’s first game in Saudi Arabia will be on Thursday, his first competitive match will be on Sunday in the Saudi Pro League when Al Nassr take on Al Ettifaq.
He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al Nassr last month, which the media has estimated to be worth more than 200 million euros ($216.28 million). However, he has been unable to play because of a two-match suspension from the English Football Association for knocking a fan’s phone out of their hand in April.
Other important PSG players including Kylian Mbappe, Sergio Ramos, and Neymar will also play in the exhibition match, along with Saudi internationals Salem Al-Dawsari and Saud Abdulhamid. Al-Dawsari scored in the shocking group-stage victory over Argentina.
According to a Monday estimate from the French publication L’Equipe, PSG will make slightly over 10 million euros from the match.