Messi and Ronaldo square off for perhaps the last time
The hype coming into this game couldn’t have been larger. Two of the greatest footballers of all time matched up in a friendly between an all-star cast from Saudi Arabia and France’s most dominant club. Paris St. Germain (PSG) traveled to King Fahd Stadium in Saudi Arabia to take on the Riyadh all-stars. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have matched up a whopping 36 times, and many are wondering if this could be the last time.
First Half: PSG dominates early
PSG started hot with a great through ball by Neymar that ended with an easy goal for Lionel Messi. The Riyadh all-stars showed weakness in their back line as PSG had no trouble threading balls through.
As the game progressed, Cristiano Ronaldo was able to generate some chances, and Riyadh found some set-piece chances in the first half.
Ronaldo was making runs consistently and was finally rewarded with a collision in the box from PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas. On a cross into the box, Ronaldo attempted a header and Navas hit his arm into Cristiano’s head, which resulted in a yellow card.
Ronaldo scored on the ensuing penalty kick to even the game at 1 goal apiece. The pressure didn’t stop there, as the Saudi Arabian group continued to press in the attacking third.
On a fast-break opportunity, a PSG defender, Juan Bernat came in heavy and picked up a red card with a hard body check. PSG would be forced to continue with just 10 players.
Nearly instantly, PSG proved that wouldn’t change much. Brazilian center-back Marquinhos showed great skill deflecting a cross from Kylian Mbappe.
The brilliance of Mbappe and Neymar was evident as they each generated quality chances before the half ended. Neymar earned a penalty kick opportunity, but that chance was squandered with a strong diving save by Mohammed Al-Owais.
This proved crucial, as a header by Ronaldo found the post. He was able to collect the rebound chance and blast it home to even the game at 2 apiece heading into halftime.
Second Half: The goals continue to roar in
A competitive start to the second half yielded another goal, as Mbappe proved his impeccable passing skills again. A great move past his defender and a quick pass to an attacking Sergio Ramos helped PSG take a 3-2 lead in the 54th minute.
Only three minutes later, Jang Hyun Soo heads in a beautiful cross to even the score. At this point, this friendly had officially turned into a barn burner.
Mbappe scored a no-doubter of a penalty kick to vault PSG to a 4-3 lead in the 60th minute.
Both teams emptied their benches and the exits of players Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe, Ramos, and even PSG goalkeeper Navas. One of the subs for PSG, Hugo Ekitike, found the back of the net on a breakaway opportunity to extend the lead to two goals.
A late rocket to the bottom corner by Anderson Talisca brought the Saudis back within one. 5-4 was the final of the match.
This was an exciting matchup for soccer fans across the globe. The endless GOAT debate regarding Messi and Ronaldo made this especially interesting. A high-scoring affair made this effort well worth it for the Saudi Arabian real estate magnate who ate an expensive cost of $2.6 million.
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