Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr crush Messi’s Inter Miami 6-0 in Saudi friendly
Ronaldo was sidelined due to injury and Messi appeared for mere seven minutes in match between Inter Miami and Al Nassr
In a football spectacle billed as ‘The Last Dance,’ Al-Nassr delivered a masterclass and trounced Inter Miami 6-0 in a friendly showdown held in Riyadh.
The much-anticipated clash between the teams of two football legends, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, was termed ‘The Last Dance’ owing to the longstanding rivalry between the two. However, the Last Dance could not take place as Al-Nassr’s manager Luis Castro ruled Ronaldo out.
Ronaldo was sidelined due to injury and Messi appeared on the field for a mere seven minutes.
Al-Nassr wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Brazilian Talisca stealing the spotlight through a spectacular hat trick. The Saudi Pro League side showcased their excellence early on and secured a commanding lead with three goals within the opening 12 minutes.
Otavio initiated the scoring with a precise strike after Miami lost possession while attempting to play from the back.
The gulf in class became increasingly evident as Talisca capitalised on Miami’s defensive lapses, turning in a penalty after halftime to secure his second goal. Aymeric Laporte added to the spectacle with a stunning long-range free-kick, leaving Miami goalkeeper Drake Calender stranded far from his line.
As the scoreboard painted a bleak picture for Inter Miami, Talisca completed his treble with a celebration reminiscent of Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siu’.
The friendly encounter exposed Miami’s undercooked state. Messi’s Inter Miami faces a challenging tour of Asia to conclude their preparations for the upcoming season.
Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, on the other hand, is set for a friendly against rivals Al-Hilal before a crucial AFC Champions League knockout tie with Saudi team Al Feiha.