Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, two of the greatest players of all time, are poised to face off on January 19 after PSG agreed to play a friendly match against the all-star Arab XI.
Cristiano Ronaldo could make his first appearance for Al Nassr in a friendly against PSG 👀 pic.twitter.com/FlZpGbYTcu
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 9, 2023
Ronaldo has not yet made his club debut, as we previously reported that he was unavailable due to a two-match suspension from English FA, and he could make his debut in the most awaited friendly against PSG.
Al Nassr and Al Hilal are the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, and a team comprised of the two clubs’ best players will compete in a friendly titled “Beyond Imagination.”
The world will witness this week the awaited showdown between #Messi and @Cristiano in a friendly match between @PSG_English and the stars of @Alhilal_EN and @AlNassrFC_EN during the 2023 @RiyadhSeason Cup. pic.twitter.com/T15RHm3kk7
— CIC Saudi Arabia (@CICSaudi) January 15, 2023
Cristiano will face Messi is the biggest possible headline, but another piece of news emerged as the Portuguese phenomenon will be the leader on the pitch for the Arab XI. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will captain the side that will march on against PSG with ferocity and purpose.
Turki Al Sheikh, the current chairman of Saudi Arabia’s general body for entertainment, acknowledged the decision to grant Cristiano the captaincy and uploaded a video of him delivering the armband to the celebrity.
الوعد ان شاءالله يوم ١٩ يناير … لقاء فوق الخيال … ومدير الفريق الكابتن خالد الشنيف ان شاءالله والتشكيلة غداً بيعلنها المدرب وخالد … اتمنى يومها ننسى الهلال والنصر ساعتين ونصير كلنا موسم الرياض… وبعد الساعتين نوقف الهدنة 😂🇸🇦❤️ pic.twitter.com/nttB07IgBb
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) January 15, 2023
“The promise, God willing, on January 19th… a meeting beyond imagination… and the team manager, Captain Khaled Al-Shanif, God willing, and the squad will be announced tomorrow by the coach and Khaled… I hope that day we will forget Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr for two hours and we will all become the Riyadh season… and after two hours we will stop the truce.”- Turki Al Sheikh posted.
‘Beyond Imagination might potentially become the highest celebrated event ever observed in the middle east, and the atmosphere at the time of reporting, is totally combustible, with fans racing into the stadium from all areas of the continent.
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Last few packages available for the friendly game of Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi All-Star XI on 19 January 2023 at King Fahd International Stadium, in Riyadh.https://t.co/a2hkPRXhVq#PSG #ParisSaintGermain #psgfans pic.twitter.com/xexVF6T6WS— Qatar Airways Holidays (@QRHolidays) January 15, 2023
Notably, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar will also participate on the field, but Messi against Cristiano, an ever-beautiful rivalry, will certainly add a new chapter to its illustrious past.
