MIAMI, USA: Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr next February in the Riyadh Season Cup for what could be the final showdown of the global football icons.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who joined the US squad in July and sparked a championship run in the Leagues Cup against US and Mexican clubs, is expected to meet Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Messi, 36, led Argentina to last year’s World Cup crown and has long been a rival of Portugal captain Ronaldo, 38.
Inter Miami was named the guest international side and will join Saudi Pro League sides Al-Hilal and Al Nassr in next February’s Riyadh Season Cup, but no exact dates for matches at Kingdom Arena in the round-robin competition were announced.
Miami also features Messi’s former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets who combined for five La Liga crowns.
Ronaldo, a five-time Champions League winner, is joined by former Liverpool standout Sadio Mane and former Inter Milan captain Marcelo Brozovic on Al Nassr.
Al-Hilal features Brazil all-time leading scorer Neymar, who is recovering from a knee injury.
Last January, Ronaldo made his first appearance in Saudi Arabia following his move to Al Nassr with a Riyadh All-Star XI that lost 5-4 to a Paris Saint-Germain side featuring Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos.
Messi’s Inter Miami to face Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in Saudi event
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Messi’s Inter Miami to face Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in Saudi event
- Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is expected to meet Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner
- Messi, 36, led Argentina to last year’s World Cup crown and has long been a rival of Portugal captain Ronaldo, 38
Kane to miss Bayern game against Gladbach with calf knock
- The England striker should be fit in time for the Champions League last-16 first leg at Atalanta next Tuesday
- “Kane is out. He got a knock on his calf and hasn’t recovered yet,” Kompany said
BERLIN: Harry Kane will miss Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga match against Borussia Moenchengladbach with a calf injury, coach Vincent Kompany said on Thursday.
The England striker, who has been an ever-present for Bayern this season, should be fit in time for the Champions League last-16 first leg at Atalanta next Tuesday.
“Harry Kane is out. He got a knock on his calf and hasn’t recovered yet,” Kompany said at a pre-match press conference ahead of Friday’s game.
“It’s just a knock, it’s nothing serious over the long term, but we’d need maybe another a day for him to be involved.
“We’re pretty relaxed. Of course we would have liked Harry to be involved, but these things happen...
“Any time Harry isn’t there, some of the boys will be hoping they can have their moment.”
Bayern took a big step toward defending their Bundesliga title last weekend with a comeback 3-2 win at closest challengers Borussia Dortmund to open up an 11-point lead.
Kane scored twice in that match to take his tally in all competitions this season to 45 goals.
