Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing to lead a joint Al Nassr and Al Hilal team in a friendly against Lionel Messi's PSG on January 19. It's a rare opportunity to see these two legends face off again after a rivalry spanning more than 15 years. For nearly ten years, between 2008 and 2017, they dominated the world stage, taking turns winning the Ballon d’Or. Now 37, the Portuguese captain has joined Al Nassr under a massive contract worth £173 million a year. This match will mark the former Manchester United star's first appearance in Saudi Arabia, facing off against the captain of Argentina.
Cristiano Ronaldo is all set to lead the Al Nassr-Al Hilal combined XI against Lionel Messi’s Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) in a friendly match on January 19. Football legends Ronaldo and Messi, who have been arch-rivals for over 15 years, are set to face each other on the field once again. Both superstars in the football world dominated the Ballon d’Or trophy from 2008 to 2017. The 37-year-old Portugal captain signed for the Middle East side Al Nassr for a record-breaking £ 173 million-a-year contract at the club. Reports confirmed that the former Manchester United player will make his Saudi Arabian debut in a match against the Argentina captain.
The showdown between Ronaldo's All-Star selection and Messi's PSG takes place this Thursday at 8:00 pm local time at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. There is immense excitement surrounding the match, as it brings the two greatest players of their era together on one pitch. The decision to have Ronaldo lead the team was confirmed when Turki Al-Sheikh, head of the General Authority for Entertainment, presented him with the captain's armband.
Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr in December involved a world-record fee of $214 million, and this clash with PSG will be his first game on Saudi soil. He had previously been unable to play in the Saudi Pro-league due to a two-match suspension handed down by the English FA late last year.
Rudi Garcia, the manager of Al Nassr, confirmed last week that Ronaldo is ready for this debut. Garcia clarified that Ronaldo won't be wearing the standard Al Nassr kit, but rather representing a merged side of Al Hilal and Al Nassr. While Garcia noted that as an Al Nassr coach, he has mixed feelings about the arrangement, he acknowledged that such an event benefits the growth of football in Saudi Arabia. He added that this friendly allows fans to see Ronaldo in action before Al Nassr's own championship match three days later.
This friendly might provide a glimpse into the future careers of these two legends. There has been significant speculation that Messi could move to Al Hilal once his time with PSG concludes, with reports suggesting a massive $300 million offer is on the table. Conversely, other sources indicate that Messi has already given a verbal commitment to remain in Paris and extend his contract with the Ligue 1 champions.