The god figures in one of the most iconic rivalries in soccer history are poised to cross paths once more. Debates persist over the title of the greatest footballer of all time, an entirely subjective matter, but Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo undeniably rank among the elite. Having contributed to some of the most unforgettable moments in the sport, they are now gearing up to share the same pitch, albeit on opposing sides, for the 37th and potentially final encounter.
As Cristiano prepares to mark his 39th birthday in February and Messi is set to turn 37 in June, this encounter is poised to be their final face-off.
Almería owner Turki Al-Sheikh confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that Messi’s Inter Miami and Cristiano’s Al-Nassr will participate in the Riyadh Season Cup in February 2024, an event touted as The Last Dance.
In a statement, it was announced: “Riyadh Season and Inter Miami CF have reached an agreement to host the Riyadh Season Cup matches in Riyadh as part of the Riyadh Season activities. The tournament will bring together the two Saudi clubs, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, along with Inter Miami CF, and the matches will follow a league system format. The schedule for the league will be disclosed at a later time.”
“The tournament is scheduled to be held in the first week of February 2024, with the participation of the stars of all participating clubs, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in the Kingdom Arena, which was recently inaugurated at the opening ceremony of the fourth edition of Riyadh Season.
“The world’s most prominent football stars will participate in the tournament, including the Saudi Al-Nassr Club player, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo and the American club Inter Miami Argentine star Lionel Messi in a confrontation that will be the talk of the world, dubbed “The Last Dance”.
“The tournament will also witness the presence of the stars of Al-Hilal Saudi Club, runner-up in the Club World Cup, lead by Serbian star Aleksandar Mitrovic, and the best player in Asia, captain Salem Al-Dawsari.
“H.E. Turki Alalshikh welcomed the participation of Inter Miami CF, noting that the tournament will have a global following due to the prominent international football stars who play for the three clubs. He stressed that the league is an extension of the major international events that Riyadh Season presents to visitors and to the world. For his part, Mr Jorge Mas welcomed the participation of Inter Miami CF in Riyadh Season, praising the great development witness in the field of football in Saudi Arabia, in addition to the great transformation witness in the entertainment sector in the Kingdom”.
