November 22, (THEWILL) – Inter Miami has denied reports that it has agreed to participate in the Riyadh Season Cup in Saudi Arabia, which could have potentially pitted Lionel Messi against Cristiano Ronaldo one last time.
On Tuesday, a clash between them and Al-Nassr was announced as part of the preseason tournament, billed as “The Last Dance” between the two superstars. However, the club has since called the announcement “inaccurate” and said its owner, Jorge Mas, “has made no comments, publicly or privately” about taking part.
The rumoured match would have seen Messi and Ronaldo face off for likely the final time in their illustrious careers. The pair last met on the pitch in January 2023, when Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain beat a Riyadh All-Stars team 5-4. At the time, it was thought that this would be the final meeting of the two legends, who are now playing in different continents in the twilight years of their careers.
In an ideal scenario, Messi and Ronaldo would contest a farewell match on the stage of the World Cup or Champions League, fitting for their status in football history. The Riyadh Season Cup theoretically offered a last chance for their long-running rivalry to play out.
For over 10 years, Messi and Ronaldo have cast an enormous shadow over the sport with their jaw-dropping exploits. Ronaldo first won the Ballon d’Or in 2008, which kicked off a period of 12 years in which one or the other picked up the award. Ronaldo’s 2009 transfer to Real Madrid also created a memorable El Clásico rivalry between the two stars for nine seasons.
Fans have long argued who is better out of Messi and Ronaldo, a debate likely settled now after Messi’s record-breaking eight Ballon d’Or wins and Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory. One last match would have undoubtedly sparked more comparisons of their immense legacies.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
