Lionel Messi Beats Cristiano Ronaldo in Potential Final Meeting

A mixed Saudi Arabian squad took on perennial French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain in a friendly match in what could be the final face-off between rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This begs the question, who won?

With a final score of 5-4, Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain defeated the Cristiano Ronaldo-led Riyadh All-Stars XI.

The Argentinian managed to only score a goal once during the match, while his Portuguese rival, now spending his final professional years in the Saudi Arabian club, Al Nassr, managed to score twice in a losing effort.

ESPN noted that this was Ronaldo's first match since leaving Manchester United on bad terms, and it was fitting as he faced his age-old rival who recently won the World Cup.

How the Latest Meeting Between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi Happened

Lionel Messi's extended vacation in his hometown of Rosario did not make him rusty at all. According to Al Jazeera, he managed to get the first goal of the match, though the Arabian side quickly got on the board thanks to a precise pass from Neymar as the two South Americans linked up.

Things got a bit heated when PSG defender Juan Bernat was sent off, though Marquinhos got the French side the lead with a first-half goal. Brazilian superstar Neymar, one of PSG's Big 3, was given a penalty kick but missed.

Cristiano Ronaldo was able to equalize the score with a header, making it 2-2, but Ramos managed to take the lead back for PSG, 3-2. South Korean Jang Hyun-Soo tied it again 3-3.

However, the Saudi side was not out of the woods yet, as Kylian Mbappe, the third member of PSG's Big 3, got on the board with his own goal.

Hugo Ekitike scored again for PSG, and it was already game, though Anderson Talisca managed to score the final goal for the Riyadh All-Stars XI to make the final score 5-4 in favor of Paris Saint-Germaine.

Cristiano Ronaldo Is Already at the Twilight of His Career Despite Winning Best Player of the Match

Despite losing, Cristiano Ronaldo was named Man of the Match as he put in some work, scoring two goals and having a high passing accuracy. However, the match also made it clear that he was not the main attraction in this friendly, as it was Messi and PSG.

As The Mirror pointed out, he was just "part of the welcoming party for one of the world's best clubs. A tune-up opponent for a PSG team focusing on conquering Europe for the first time."

However, Ronaldo still played his best, as a man possessed even, as his reputation was on the line here. No longer part of Europe's biggest clubs and spending his last years in Saudi Arabia, it looked like Ronaldo had something to prove.

While it was billed as Ronaldo's big debut in Arabia, the Arab fans at King Fahd Stadium were not chanting his name but were chanting Messi's. Now it seems, the Portuguese soccer icon is now facing another battle, and that is to stay relevant, according to The Mirror.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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