The last dance: Controversy surrounds Messi and Ronaldo match announcement

Turki Al Sheikh, owner of UD Almería and president of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, announced on Tuesday that Inter Miami and Al Nassr would face off in the Riyadh Season Cup in February 2024.

However, the North American club swiftly denied the scheduled match, stating, “Today, an announcement was made indicating that Inter Miami CF is scheduled to play in the Riyadh Season Cup. This is inaccurate.”

The conflicting reports emerged regarding what could have been the last dance between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two football icons with a storied rivalry spanning over a decade.

Having competed in Barcelona and Real Madrid, contending for Ballon d’Or awards and vying for the throne of world football, this potential match could have marked their latest face-off, possibly the last in their careers.

The proposed game would have been the second meeting since Messi’s departure from Barcelona.

The Argentine faced off against Ronaldo while at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus during their intense La Liga battles.

The last duel occurred in a friendly match in January 2023 between PSG and a selection of players from Al Nassr and Al Hilal, the two most prominent teams in Saudi Arabia, at the King Fahd International Stadium.

PSG emerged victorious with a 4-5 score, with Messi scoring a goal and Cristiano netting a brace. The eagerly anticipated showdown between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remains on hold, with uncertainties surrounding its actualization.