The rivalry between Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has dominated world football for more than a decade.
It kept all football fans, journalists, commentators and more busy.
Each of them carried a group of fans after him who accepted them in the great moments as well as in the low moments and confronted each other.
Tonight (19:00) the world will get a chance to see another fight between the Portuguese and the Argentinian, in what may be the last meeting of their careers.
After 20 years in Europe's top leagues, Ronaldo took his talent to Saudi Arabia's Al-Nasser in a controversial decision after his contract with Manchester United was canceled and ironically his first match in the Middle East will be against his old rival.
And even if in the end it is a friendly meeting whose purpose is mainly to please the audience in Saudi Arabia and to give exposure, it is impossible to hide from the fact that there is something more in this meeting.
While Messi will look at his nemesis with the eyes of a world champion, a month after carrying Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo wants to prove that his strength is still in his loins, this after being left on the bench for Portugal in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
that he does not look down in front of the great opponent.
that he didn't go to Saudi Arabia just for the money, but because he really has more to contribute.
Even in friendly games, even in games for real titles.
The last time we will see Messi vs Ronaldo?
🥹 pic.twitter.com/1xoyVc6AvV
— 433 (@433) January 19, 2023
Messi, it seems, has nothing left to prove in Europe or on the international stage, while there are reports that Al Hilal want to bring the 35-year-old to Saudi Arabia when his PSG contract expires at the end of the season and give him a contract with a salary of 300 million euros. 100 more than Ronaldo.
The Flea is entering what could be the happiest period of his career.
no pressure.
No fear of losing titles, but only a desire to get more.
And any title he gets from now on will be mainly for the audience or the team he plays for.
not for himself.
Messi and Ronaldo won all the Ballon d'Or between 2008-2017 until Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric broke their hegemony and the Argentine has since won two more to lead 5:7 over his Portuguese rival in the race to be the best player of the last generation.
When the two first met in 2008 as youngsters, Manchester United and Barcelona drew 0:0 in the Champions League.
Since then, both have never been involved in a goalless draw for their clubs and teams in memorable games with millions watching devoutly.
Today, there are quite a few people who will cry in front of the television, thinking that we will no longer see this pair of phenomena on the same grass in the future.
Messi and Ronaldo.
Tears of the end, photo: AFP
And of course it is impossible not to refer to Saudi Arabia.
Tonight's meeting is intended to give another boost of attention to the country that will do everything to host the World Cup in 2030 and today this journey begins.
Mohammed Al-Jadaan, the Minister of Finance of Saudi Arabia, recently stated that the door of his country is open to moves that will bring it closer to the West, to study how to improve football in the country, and they do not lack money to achieve the goal.
"We talked about it before and the quality of life is a critical part of the 2030 vision and the quality of life in Saudi Arabia has improved with sports being a significant part of that," he told CNBC when asked about Ronaldo or Messi moving to the country.
"The young population of Saudi Arabia watches sports and plays sports and anything we can do to improve this industry will return the money and improve the quality of life not only for our people but for the people who come from outside."
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