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<\/p>\nLionel Messi and Inter Miami will play against Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia in a blockbuster friendly game in February.<\/p>\n
The game is being billed as ‘The Last Dance’ in what is likely the final match-up between two of the all-time greats of the sport. At present, no further date is given other than the game being held in February.<\/p>\n
Messi, now 36, carved out the bulk of his legacy at Barcelona while Ronaldo, 38, hit similar heights at fierce rivals Real Madrid, after moving from Manchester United in 2009.<\/p>\n
The Inter Miami man was targeted by the Saudi league and widely expected to follow Ronaldo there this year before ultimately deciding to join David Beckham’s Major League Soccer team.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr in December 2022 following a bitter split from United in his second spell at the club.<\/p>\n
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Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will play against Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n
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The game will likely be the last ever featuring Messi and Ronaldo on opposing teams\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Ronaldo headed to the Saudi league with Al Nassr for massive money in December 2022<\/p>\n
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Messi was expected to follow but instead joined Inter Miami and quickly won the Leagues Cup<\/p>\n
The Portugal star is paid around $75million a year on a deal that runs until 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Messi would have earned similar wages in the Saudi league – more than in the United States – but he still earns between $50-60million in Miami on a two-year contract with an option for a third season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His deal is bankrolled in part by adidas and Apple, with Messi getting a cut from shirt sales and Apple television subscriptions to watch MLS.<\/p>\n
Messi and his team failed to reach the MLS playoffs after a disastrous start to the season but they still won the Leagues Cup and made it to the final of the US Open Cup.<\/p>\n
The game will also see Ronaldo face two other Barcelona favorites in Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who followed Messi to Miami.<\/p>\n
And by the time the game comes around in February, Luis Suarez could be involved as well with the striker heavily linked with a move to the MLS side from Brazilian team Gremio.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ronaldo’s Al Nassr team has ex-Liverpool and Bayern Munich attacker Sadio Mane, as well as former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, Ronaldo’s ex-United teammate Alex Telles and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina.<\/p>\n
Miami have long been mooted with playing some lucrative overseas friendlies ahead of next year’s MLS season.<\/p>\n
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Messi and Ronaldo’s career paths have crossed on many occasions over the years\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Messi, pictured with wife Antonela, was at one stage tipped to follow Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Ronaldo, and partner Georgina Rodriguez, headed to Saudi Arabia in December 2022<\/p>\n
A post-season tour of China was scrapped earlier this month and instead, they played New York City FC at their DRV PNK Stadium to commemorate Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Mas brothers, who own the club alongside Beckham, have also spoken of arranging a friendly with Barcelona at the Nou Camp to allow Messi to bid farewell to the fans on the field.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The debate between who is better out of Messi and Ronaldo has polarized fans throughout the course of their storied career.<\/p>\n
Messi was won a World Cup with Argentina – Ronaldo has not with Portugal, but he did win the European Championship in 2016. Messi also has a Copa America to his name.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo has more Champions League titles though – winning the tournament five times, four at Madrid and once in Manchester. Messi won the competition four times with Barcelona but missed the 2006 final – the first to his name – through injury.<\/p>\n
Messi won Spain’s LaLiga 10 times in 16 seasons with Barcelona, while Ronaldo won it twice in nine years there.<\/p>\n
Messi, of course, also has eight ballon d’Ors to the five of Ronaldo. Messi’s most recent one this year was awarded to him by Beckham at a ceremony in Paris.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo considers himself a trail blazer by joining the Saudi league – the first major star to do so – and back in July said the standard is better than what Messi contends with in the US.<\/p>\n
‘The Saudi league is better than MLS,’ Ronaldo said after his team lost 5-0 to Celta Vigo in a friendly.<\/p>\n
‘Now all the players are coming here.\u00a0In one year, more top players will come to Saudi Arabia.’<\/p>\n
Messi, meanwhile, has said that the lifestyle in the US was a key factor behind his move to Miami.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘People in this city and this club have made it easy for us,’ Messi said in August of his move. ‘The fans, the people that I meet every day on the streets in the city where we are now… it’s a spectacular city, and that’s why I can live with happiness.<\/p>\n
‘We are in that adaptation period, the kids are going to school soon, and that will help to get to the end of that adjustment, and get used to daily life.<\/p>\n
‘It’s only a small period to complete the adaptation, but it’s been much easier than we thought.’<\/p>\n
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