Inter Miami are in Saudi Arabia as part of their pre-season exhibition tour and face the challenge against Al Nassr on the 1st of February.
The encounter was highly anticipated the world over as it pitted two of the generation’s biggest stars, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, against each other.
However, Al Nassr manager Luis Castro announced that Ronaldo is in the final part of his recovery and will not play in the club’s friendly against Inter Miami, ruling out a reunion between the fierce rivals.
Portuguese superstar Ronaldo made the switch to the Saudi Pro League after his public fallout with former club Manchester United before the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo opted to move to Al Nassr after an explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he lambasted the English club. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner burned all bridges with is scathing comments and was sold out in the following window.
His move to the Saudi Pro League triggered a swathe of household football names to arrive at the ambitious Middle-Eastern nation’s project as Karim Benzema, N’golo Kante, Roberto Firmino and so on followed suit in switching to the oil-rich nation’s league.
Ronaldo tops the goal-scoring charts in the Saudi Pro League with 20 goals to his name this season as his side stand second in the table with 46 points under their belt, seven behind table-toppers Al Hilal.
Messi, on the other hand, moved to Inter Miami following his two-year spell at French champions PSG, where he lifted the domestic league title twice, but things went awry as the side failed to clinch the coveted UEFA Champions League despite their star-studded lineup.
Ultimately, the relationship between the Argentine superstar and the fans turned sour, resulting in the magician from Rosario seeking pastures anew in North America.
Messi was awarded his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or trophy recently and also picked up the FIFA Best award, adding to his ever-growing collection of silverware and trophies.
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