In what was anticipated as a potential final meeting between football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, fans were left waiting as Messi spent most of the match on the bench during Al-Nassr's spectacular 6-0 victory over Inter Miami on Thursday.
Despite the absence of the Messi-Ronaldo showdown, the atmosphere in the Kingdom Arena was electric, with Ronaldo, recovering from a calf injury, passionately supporting Al-Nassr from the stands. The friendly match turned into a one-sided affair, with Al-Nassr scoring three goals within the first 12 minutes.
The onslaught began within three minutes, as Otavio unleashed a remarkable shot into the top corner of Miami's goal, earning cheers and applause from Ronaldo. Anderson Talisca added to the misery three minutes later with a close-range goal. The unexpected continued as Aymeric Laporte sent a free-kick from inside the Al-Nassr half over the head of Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.
Miami, coming off a 4-3 defeat to Riyadh rival Al-Hilal, struggled to mount any significant attack in the first half, with Luis Suarez's volley being their lone noteworthy attempt.
The second half saw no respite for Miami as Al-Nassr extended their lead. Talisca scored his second from the spot after 51 minutes, followed by Mohammed Maran heading in a fifth midway through the half. Talisca completed his hat trick, sealing Miami's humiliation.
Messi, who spent most of the match on the bench, made a late appearance but had minimal impact on the proceedings. Al-Nassr's dominant performance showcased their prowess even in the absence of key players like Sadio Mané and several domestic players participating in the Asian Cup with the Saudi Arabian national team.
As Al-Nassr basked in their victory, Inter Miami's preseason tour is set to continue in Asia with upcoming games in Hong Kong and Japan. The anticipated clash between Messi and Ronaldo will have to wait for another day, leaving fans eager for the next chapter in this iconic football rivalry.
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