Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will not share the field during the friendly between Al-Nassr and Inter Miami, as the Portuguese striker continues to recover from a calf injury.
Ronaldo’s injury caused his Saudi Arabian club to cancel two friendlies in China last week.
And he’ll remain sidelined as Inter Miami play his against his club on Thursday, with Al-Nassr manager Luis Castro confirming the news.
‘Ronaldo is in the final part of his recovery to join the group,’ he told reporters. ‘We hope that in the next few days you can start working with the team. He will be absent from the game.’
Messi and Ronaldo faced off a year ago in Saudi Arabia as PSG faced a Riyadh All-Star XI, but Miami’s visit this week may have been the last chance for the stars, 36 and 38 respectively, to play against each other.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil Van Dijk are seen at the 2019 Champions League Draw
Ronaldo and Messi last faced off on January 19, 2023, as PSG played a Riyadh All-Star team
The Herons’ matchup vs. Al-Nassr will be their second preseason test in Saudi Arabia, as they lost 4-3 to Al-Hilal on Monday.
Ronaldo spoke last week about Al-Nassr canceling its China games, claiming that the club would be back in the country at a later date.
‘As you know, I played 22 years in football and I’m the player who doesn’t have too many injuries. So, I’m really sad, because Al Nassr and myself, we come here to China to enjoy the tour,’ he told reporters.
‘So, as you can see, I feel sad. I know you are sad, too, especially the people who love Cristiano. But we have to see this in a good way.
‘When I say in a good way, I mean, we [have] not canceled the game. We’re going to postpone the game. We want to be back here to your country. We will be back.’
More to come
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