Inter Miami may not necessarily be the biggest club in the MLS, but the David Beckham-owned franchise is arguably the most marketable football club in the United States, thanks to Lionel Messi’s arrival last June. The Argentine superstar’s decision to sign with Inter Miami has raised the profile of the club and also the MLS.
The club has decided to take advantage of the high-profile rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by arranging a pair of pre-season friendlies against Saudi Arabian outfits Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, the latter of which is captained by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Inter Miami announced to play Saudi Arabia preseason matches
Inter Miami didn’t enjoy the best of ends to the year’s MLS season, with Lionel Messi’s injury problems effectively ending the club’s hopes of making it to the MLS playoffs. With Messi committed more than ever and the potential signing of Luis Suarez to the club, Inter Miami now looks ready to conquer the MLS next season, but not before they take on Saudi Arabian clubs in their first pre-season tour.
“Adding a stop to our preseason international tour,” the club announced on social media yesterday.
“We will play two matches in Saudi Arabia in the Riyadh Season Cup as part of our first-ever international tour. In a round-robin tournament format, we will take on Saudi powerhouses Al-Hilal SFC and Al Nassr on Monday, January 29, at 1 PM ET and Thursday, February 1, at 1 PM ET.”
Inter Miami’s preseason schedule means the world will get to see Lionel Messi lock horns with Cristiano Ronaldo once again. The pair’s rivalry began in 2009 when Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid, and 14 years down the line, it continues to be the most talked-about rivalry in the history of soccer.
Soccer community reacts to Inter Miami’s preseason match announcement
The confirmation of Inter Miami’s preseason friendly against Al Nassr next year has sent soccer fans into a frenzy, as most of them can’t wait to see Lionel Messi lock horns with Cristiano Ronaldo again.
The last time the pair met was also in a friendly match between PSG and Saudi Arabia All-Star team in the Middle Eastern country earlier this year, with both of them getting on the scoresheet in the game.
Soccer fans quickly took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts on the high-profile clash between the two greatest players of all time.
“How many times does Ronaldo have to end this debate once and for all?”, a Twitter user asked.
“Messi owing Ronaldo again,” another one said.
One standout reaction was when a user pointed out how organizers are trying to take advantage of the potential last encounter between these two greats.
“They are trying to profit from their last encounter as much as possible,” the Twitter user wrote.
Chants of Messi’s name recently taunted Ronaldo during an encounter between Al-Hilal and Al Nassr, which the league leaders won 3-0, but the Portuguese forward will have the chance to get one over his eternal rival next year.
Will Ronaldo or Messi triumph in the upcoming preseason friendly encounter?
