Lionel Messi is gearing up to face his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo in the Inter Miami’s Asia tour.
Having recently returned to action in pre-season games against El Salvador and FC Dallas, Messi is set to lead the charge for the Herons. However, doubts loom over the participation of his eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Inter Miami, en route to Saudi Arabia for the Riyadh Cup, anticipates a face-off against Al-Hilal on Monday, followed by a clash with Al-Nassr on February 1. The latter was supposed to mark the iconic meeting of Messi and Ronaldo for the ‘Last Dance.’ Messi’s inclusion in the squad, alongside Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, has been confirmed by the club.
On the flip side, Ronaldo’s untimely injury has led to the cancellation of Al-Nassr’s China tour, raising concerns about his availability for the much-anticipated duel against Messi and his teammates.
After their Saudi Arabian stint, Inter Miami will embark on an East Asian leg, challenging a Hong Kong Select XI on February 4, followed by a showdown with Vissel Kobe in Japan three days later.