Messi and Bruised Ronaldo win a showdown twice

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Grimacing in pain from his bruised cheekbone, Cristiano Ronaldo steadied himself before scoring from the penalty spot for his first goal in Saudi Arabia against a Paris Saint-Germain team featuring his old foe Lionel Messi.

Messi had scored an early goal in Thursday’s exhibition match when Ronaldo, PSG goalkeeper Keylor Nvas was forced to box-match him boxing-match style after only 30 minutes in Riyadh. This city gained sporting fame for hosting the game. a world heavyweight championship boxing bout in 2019.

Ronaldo was not caught by Anthony Joshua, but Navas with his forearm covered in a high ball.

Both were beaten like boxers.

Ronaldo held his neck up, raised his right arm, and looked at Navas as though he was testing his sore left cheek.

Ronaldo was glowing bright-apple red by the end the first half, but he was beaming after scoring his second goal. Ronaldo squeaked his tongue out and spun away, surrounded by his teammates at the corner flag.

When PSG star Kylian Mbappé checked on the state of Ronaldo’s cheek just before the second half, Ronaldo milked the attention from France’s World Cup star And pointed to the red line.

Mbappé smiled at him as if to say “You’ll be fine” and Ronaldo raised his arm in triumph like a heavyweight champion.

Messi’s Qatari-backed PSG won 5-4 against a combined XI of Saudi Arabian teams Al Nassr and Al Hilal, captained by Al Nassr’s new signing Ronaldo, in front of 68,000 fans at King Fahd International Stadium. Ronaldo won the match against Messi, despite his team losing. This was perhaps the last instalment in Ronaldo vs. Messi’s greatest rivalry in soccer history. It took place in an unusual venue.

Messi’s shot led to a handball and PSG’s fourth goal, scored by Mbappé from the penalty spot.

Ronaldo came off to a huge ovation just after the hour mark followed by Mbappé and Argentina’s World Cup-winning star MessiMarcelo Gallardo, a countryman, warmly embraced Alicia, as she was coaching the combined Saudi Arabian teams.

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