Inter
Miami
fails to put first in 2024. Although
Lionel Messi
is becoming more and more active as the games go by, his team has still not managed to win in any of the three games played in the preseason.
And after the recent loss to Al Hilal 4-3 in the premiere of the tour of Saudi Arabia, the moment has arrived for the most anticipated duel by fans, especially for the most nostalgic: the possible "The Last Dance" against
Cristiano Ronaldo
and his Al Nassr.
Next February 1, the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh
will dress up to host what could be the last edition of Messi's historic confrontation against CR7, that match that marked an era.
And beyond the fact that it is a friendly duel, Leo will go in search of straightening the weak course with which those led by
Gerardo
Tata
Martino
began the year (one draw and two defeats).
While, true to his style, Ronaldo will seek to become stronger by playing at home.
It will be the
38th duel between the two most outstanding players of the century
.
An extensive history in which both managed to stand out equally, with 23 goals in their favor.
However, Leo managed to win 17 times, against Ronaldo's 11 wins and nine draws.
The last time they saw each other was also in a friendly duel.
It happened in January 2023, when Paris Saint Germain beat Al Nassr 5-4, which was directed exclusively by Marcelo Gallardo.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will face each other for a friendly.
For Leo, the match is presented as the right moment to quench the thirst for victory that he has not yet been able to quench in 2024. So much so that this Monday's defeat against Al Hilal does not seem to have gone down well at all given the competitiveness that characterizes the Rosario.
This was demonstrated in an
uncomfortable moment when a journalist tried to ask him a question
while he was entering the locker room tunnel.
That was when the cameras managed to capture a '10' who was not happy about the situation.
To the point that the man from Rosario did not stop before the chronicler's query, who in his eagerness to get a word out of the star, had to be intercepted by the bodyguard that the star has had since his arrival at Inter Miami.
Even during the match it was also possible to see a curious attitude in Leo.
The thing is that when his teammate Luis Suárez marked the discount for 1-2, the linesman raised the flag and annulled the goal due to an alleged advanced position by the Uruguayan.
Given the sanction, Messi immediately went to protest against Edina Batista, the match judge, to ask her a question.
"
Is there VAR?
" he asked annoyingly twice, with the intention of having the play reviewed.
Finally, the Uruguayan striker's goal was ratified at the request of technology.
الاسطورة ميسي والحكمه pic.twitter.com/uJ0iD4cBDS
— Messi Xtra (@M30Xtra) January 29, 2024
Despite the three games played this year, there is still a long road ahead for Las Garzas to finish their set-up ahead of their official debut in the MLS, when they host Real Salt Lake on February 21.
After the match against Ronaldo's Al Nassr, the tour of Saudi Arabia will end for those from Florida, although they will still have two games left to play in other regions of the Middle East.
The first will be in
Hong Kong, on February 4,
where Martino's men will face a team of local stars.
Then, on Wednesday the 7th, it will be time for the last duel before returning to North America.
To do this, Inter Miami must travel to
Tokyo
, where they will clash against
Vissel Kobe
.
Messi and Martino, both concerned about the present of Inter Miami.
Photo: AP.
After traveling almost 32 thousand kilometers in a week, Messi will play one of the most special duels of his career:
he will face Newell's for the first time
.
The match will be played at the DRV PNK Stadium on February 15.
Afterwards, it will be time to leave the friendly duels behind and give way to the new season of American soccer.
The millionaire figure that Leo will earn for appearing in the Super Bowl
Before he finishes his tune-up, precisely on February 11, Messi will have a special appearance in a new sport.
Yes, he will be present in an advertisement while Super Bowl LVIII
takes place
.
It will be thanks to the stellar hiring of the
North American beer company Michelob Ultrad
, which in its 60-second commercial will show Messi ordering a beer while entering a beachside bar.
The footballer's reaction is also shown when the beer stops flowing from the tap.
However, the company's high-end reinforcement did not come at a low cost.
🚨 Lionel Messi will headline a Super Bowl ad for Michelob Ultra.
Via @APNews.
pic.twitter.com/pMzXWjcGRM
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) January 25, 2024
To make his appearance, according to
The New York Times
, Messi will charge a figure of
14 million dollars
, double what Michelob Ultrad paid for a 30-second advertisement in 2023.
Such a sequence will allow the global reach of the Argentine star to be shown, considering that last year the sporting event was watched by an audience that exceeded 115 million viewers on television and 10 million via streaming.
In this edition, the Kansas City Chief will face off against the San Francisco 49ers.