Messi Back Goal Freekick Inter Miami VS Philadelphia 3\2 American Leagua All Goal Hilghilght 2024HD

Transcript

00:00It was supposed to be the latest meeting of the world's greatest players.

00:04Now, it's potentially nothing more than another largely meaningless friendly match.

00:09When the Riyadh season cup exhibition game was first set for February 1, it was billed

00:14as perhaps one last chance to see Inter Miami's Lionel Messi take on El Nacer and Cristiano

00:19Ronaldo.

00:20It was to be football's version of the last dance.

00:23The Major League Soccer club are using the game to prepare for their season opener later

00:27in February, while for the Saudi Pro League team it is another brick in the wall of their

00:31efforts to continue building the profile of the game in the Middle East.

00:35Then came the news that one, and potentially both, of the big attractions would not take

00:40part.

00:41It was confirmed that El Nacer would be without Ronaldo as he continues to recover from a

00:45calf injury.

00:47Cristiano is in the final part of his recovery to join the group, Luis Castro, El Nacer's

00:52manager, said in his press conference on Wednesday.

00:55We expect that he can begin to work with the team in the next few days.

01:00He will be an element that will be absent from the game.

01:03Ronaldo's absence was certainly a blow for organisers as well as football fans around

01:07the world who wanted to see the latest and, perhaps, final instalment of a rivalry that

01:12has helped to define modern football.

01:15And fans were left asking would Messi, at least, be involved in the match in the Saudi

01:19capital?

01:20Now it appears we have our answer.

01:23The Sporting News takes a look at the latest team news around Inter Miami and their star

01:27man.

01:28More, full Inter Miami schedule for 2024 competitive season set to begin in February.