As both forwards scored in an exhibition game on Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi transported spectators back to the height of their legendary rivalry. Hugo Ekitike then helped 10-man Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeat the Riyadh Season Team 5-4.
Football fans across the world received a lot of bang for their buck as a tale that has dominated the sport for more than ten years appeared to come to a close in a memorable goalfest, even though the match may not have much lasting relevance for the clubs involved.
With a combined 12 Ballon d’Or victories, Ronaldo and Argentina’s Messi have dominated the sport over the past 15 years.
During the nine years that they competed against one another in Spain — while Messi was a star for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid — their rivalry intensified.
A brace from Ronaldo offset goals from Messi and Marquinhos in an exciting first half at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, where PSG’s Juan Bernat was sent off for a lunging tackle on Saudi international Salem Al-Dawsari.
After the break, the match picked up the pace and goals started coming thick and fast. PSG’s Sergio Ramos converted a Kylian Mbappe cross, but South Korea’s Jang Hyun-soo responded with a close-range header from a corner to tie the score at three.
Ali Al-handball Bulaihi’s awarded the visitors a penalty, which Kylian Mbappe converted expertly on the hour. Hugo Ekitike then increased the advantage to 5-3 with a thunderous finish after a lung-busting run from the halfway point.
Even though the Saudis scored a goal in stoppage time through Anderson Talisca, Ekitike’s goal won the game.
Although he was unable to start his new life in Saudi Arabia with a victory, Ronaldo, 37, will draw inspiration from his performance as he gets ready to play in his first competitive match for Al Nassr on Sunday when they meet Al Ettifaq.
Ronaldo played in the game for the first time in the kingdom following the signing of a contract with Al Nassr that extends through 2025 and is worth more than 200 million euros ($216 million), per sources close to the club.
Several weeks after Portugal’s elimination from the World Cup quarterfinal in Qatar, where Messi won the championship for Argentina, Ronaldo’s storied career enters its newest and probably final chapter.
