SUMMARY
- Inter Miami was on tour in Saudi Arabia.
- While in Saudi they faced both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr.
A recent incident in Saudi Arabia has reignited the fierce debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo fanbases. Al-Nassr had recently organized a friendly match against Inter Miami in Saudi Arabia. With the help of this matchup, they fulfilled the wish to watch the Messi vs Ronaldo rivalry one last time.
At a hotel in Saudi Arabia, a Ronaldo fan displayed a Cristiano Ronaldo shirt directly in front of Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi. This act has sparked controversy, raising questions about sportsmanship, respect, and the ever-present rivalry between the two soccer icons.
A fan showing RONALDO shirt infront of Lionel Messi’s father 😭
— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) February 2, 2024
Both the fanbases are renowned for teasing each other. While details surrounding the hotel and context remain unclear, the image of the fan holding the Ronaldo shirt near Jorge Messi went viral on social media. This act was perceived by many as a deliberate attempt to provoke or disrespect Messi and his family.
Many fans condemned the act, calling it disrespectful, unnecessary, and a poor display of sportsmanship. They argued that regardless of personal preferences, showing such blatant disregard for another player’s family is unacceptable.
Anderson Talisca wished Cristiano Ronaldo had played against Inter Miami
Following Al-Nassr’s emphatic 6-0 victory over Inter Miami in a friendly encounter, the spotlight shone on the absence of star signing Cristiano Ronaldo. While his teammate Anderson Talisca stole the show with a hat trick and a celebratory “Siuuu”. His post-match comments revealed a lingering wish.
🚨🎙 Talisca on celebrating like Cristiano Ronaldo:
“We would have wished that he was with us on the pitch.” pic.twitter.com/o0JFj0tn7Y
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) February 1, 2024
Talisca expressed his desire for Ronaldo’s presence, stating, “We would have wished that he [Ronaldo] was with us on the pitch.” This sentiment captures the excitement surrounding the potential impact of their partnership on the field. Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliance combined with Talisca’s creative flair could have been a formidable force.
With both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo absent for most of the game, Talisca fully dominated the show. Proving to the world that Al-Nassr is not fully dependent on the Portuguese great, Cristiano Ronaldo, they can achieve without him as well.
Turki Al-Sheikh mocks Lionel Messi for not starting the match
Turki Al-Sheikh, Saudi Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment, has sparked controversy with a social media post seemingly mocking Lionel Messi’s benching during Inter Miami’s recent match against Al-Nassr. While some see it as lighthearted banter, others consider it disrespectful and unbecoming of a prominent figure.
🚨Turki Al-Sheikh (Saudi Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment)
“I received news about Messi. He saw that Cristiano was absent and was afraid that he would lose against Al Nassr without Ronaldo, and he would stumble and walk away and said, ‘Let me go.’” 😂 pic.twitter.com/BvmL15SCsQ
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) February 1, 2024
On February 1st, 2024, Inter Miami faced Al-Nassr in a friendly exhibition match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Much of the anticipation surrounded the potential on-field clash between Messi and Ronaldo, two of football’s greatest players. However, Messi was surprisingly absent from the starting lineup, raising eyebrows and sparking speculation.
Mocking the Argentine the Saudi Chairman said, “I received news about Messi. He saw that Cristiano was absent and was afraid that he would lose against Al Nassr without Ronaldo, and he would stumble and walk away and say, ‘Let me go.’”
Lionel Messi was pulled from Inter Miami’s starting eleven due to a reported muscular injury. He played for 88 minutes in the previous game against Al-Hilal and was replaced in the final moments. The team is not taking any risks with their star player’s health as they start their regular campaign.