Legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are poised for another epic showdown, perhaps the last one. The stage is set for a ‘Star War’ at the Riyadh Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, where Inter Miami is confirmed to participate. This Saudi match is a highlight of Inter Miami’s debut international tour.
Messi and Ronaldo have clashed 35 times, with Messi’s teams winning 16, Ronaldo’s teams winning 10, and nine ending in draws. Messi boasts 21 goals and 12 assists against Ronaldo’s teams, while Ronaldo has scored 20 goals with one assist against Messi’s teams.
Ronaldo joined Saudi Arabia’s al-Nasser club in January last year. Messi recently signed with North America’s Inter Miami.
Their departure from Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid turned their iconic La Liga rivalry into cherished memories.
Both players hold numerous football records. Messi has claimed the Ballon d’Or eight times, and Ronaldo five times. This prestigious award, presented annually by France Football magazine since 1956, recognizes the year’s best footballer. Messi has won the European Golden Shoe six times for being the top scorer in European leagues, while Ronaldo has won it four times.
Messi stands out as the only footballer to win the Laureus Award, the sport’s equivalent of an Oscar, twice in 2020 and 2023. He is also La Liga’s all-time top scorer with 474 goals for Barcelona, followed by Ronaldo with 311 goals for Real Madrid.
Ronaldo holds the record for the most international goals, while Messi ranks third with 106 goals for Argentina.
Inter Miami’s tour includes a match against Al Hilal on January 29 and Al-Nassr on February 1 at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena. The round-robin tournament also features a game against El Salvador’s national team on January 19 and a match in Hong Kong on February 4.
