Messi late cameo as Ronaldoless Al-Nassr crush Inter Miami 6-0
Friday February 02 2024
Al Nassr's midfielder Marcelo Brozovic (L) in action with Inter Miami's midfielder David Ruiz during a football match at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 1, 2024. PHOTO | REUTERS
Lionel Messi came on as an 83rd-minute substitute but could do nothing to stop Inter Miami suffering a 6-0 drubbing by an Al-Nassr team without Cristiano Ronaldo in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The match, billed as possibly the last chance for the multiple Ballon D'Or winners to face each other on the pitch, was part of a friendly tournament also involving Brazilian Neymar's Al-Hilal, the Saudi Pro League leaders.
Argentina forward Messi, nursing a hamstring problem, started on the bench and Portugal's Ronaldo missed out completely due to a muscle injury, disappointing fans hoping to see the world's two most famous footballers in opposition.
Read: Inter Miami confirm Saudi Arabia friendly dates
Inter, who started the game with former Barcelona players Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in their lineup, trailed 3-0 inside 12 minutes and never threatened to make a comeback.
Messi, 36, played against Al-Hilal on Monday, converting a penalty in the 54th minute before he was substituted two minutes from time as Inter lost 4-3.