Later this week, on Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo will captain a team made up of players from Al Nassr and Al Hilal that will play Paris Saint-Germain under Lionel Messi.
Turki Al-Sheikh, the president of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Entertainment, confirmed the choice by posting a video of himself giving Ronaldo the captain’s armband before the game on Twitter.
In addition, Ronaldo will be playing in his first game on Saudi Arabian territory after joining Al Nassr for a record-breaking $214 million last month.
The Portuguese had to miss Al Nassr’s Saudi Pro-league games because the English FA had given him a two-match suspension last year.
Last season, the 37-year-old attacker violently destroyed an Everton supporter’s phone as he stormed down the Goodison Park tunnel. After an FA investigation, Ronaldo received a $60,000 (£50,000) fine and a two-match suspension.
Rudi Garcia, the coach of Al Nassr, announced last week that Ronaldo was getting ready to make his collegiate debut.
“He won’t make his debut wearing an Al Nassr jersey. Al Hilal and Al Nassr will be blended together. I am unable to be pleased with this match as Al Nassr’s head coach. To watch PSG and the great Parisian players is definitely beneficial for development. But three days later, we play in the final game.”
The match between Ronaldo and Messi is anticipated to be a major event, especially since Messi claimed the World Cup trophy, the top award in the sport.
Messi and Ronaldo both enjoyed successful club football careers. But Messi’s victory in the World Cup may have shifted the scales in his favour in the most important discussion ever.
The friendly might also double as a teaser for the two game’s biggest stars’ upcoming projects. After his deal with PSG expires, there have been rumours that Messi would sign on with Al Hilal.
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