Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr will face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in a blockbuster friendly match in Saudi Arabia in February 2024.
The game is being billed as ‘The Last Dance,’ and it is expected to be the final meeting between two of the sport’s all-time greats. Other than the game in February, no other dates are currently available.
Messi, now 36, spent the majority of his career at Barcelona, while Ronaldo, 38, achieved similar success at Real Madrid after joining from Manchester United in 2009.
The Inter Miami man was targeted by the Saudi league and was widely expected to follow Ronaldo there this year before deciding to join David Beckham’s Major League Soccer team.
Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr in December 2022 after a contentious split with Manchester United during his second stint at the club.
The Portugal star is paid around $75million a year on a deal that runs until 2025.
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.
His contract is partially funded by adidas and Apple, with Messi receiving a cut of shirt sales and Apple television subscriptions to watch MLS.
Despite failing to make the MLS playoffs after a disastrous start to the season, Messi and his team won the League Cup and advanced to the US Open Cup final.
Ronaldo will also face two other Barcelona favorites, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who accompanied Messi to Miami.
Luis Suarez, who has been heavily linked with a move to the MLS side from Brazilian club Gremio, could also be involved by the time the game takes place in February.
Ronaldo’s Al Nassr team includes ex-Liverpool and Bayern Munich attacker Sadio Mane, ex-Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, ex-Manchester United teammate Alex Telles, and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina.
Miami has long considered playing some lucrative overseas friendlies ahead of next year’s MLS season.
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