In February 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will clash again in Saudi Arabia. Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain defeated Riyadh All-Stars XI 5-4 in the Kingdom in January. ‘Last Dance, Ronaldo and Messi face off in Saudi Arabia next year Messi and Ronaldo are nearing the end of their careers on different continents thus many feel it will be their last match.
‘Last Dance’: Ronaldo and Messi face off in Saudi Arabia next year
Both forwards have dominated international football for over ten years, with Ronaldo earning his first of five Ballon d’Ors in 2008. He and Messi shared the championship 12 times in 14 years. Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi side Al Nassr, will face Messi’s Inter Miami in a pre-season friendly encounter called “The Last Dance” in honour of their likely final football match.
Messi, 36, excelled at Barcelona, while Ronaldo, 38, rose to greatness at Real Madrid after joining from Manchester United in 2009. Considering their stature, their last match should have been in the World Cup or Champions League. But the Riyadh Season Cup ends their long-running rivalry on the pitch.
Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009, pitting them against each other in one of Europe’s biggest derbies for nine seasons. Fans argued who was better, but Messi’s eight Ballon d’Ors and Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win may have resolved it. The February friendly will revive Messi-Ronaldo legacy debates.
