Thursday’s “Last Dance” between Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami ended up being a Miami massacre as the Saudi club won 6-0, Ronaldo didn’t play and Messi only featured for 15 minutes.
The one big highlight fans are discussing is Al Nassr and former Manchester City center back Aymeric Laporte scoring a ridiculous 70-yard free kick.
In the 12th minute Al Nassr already led 2-0 and were awarded a free kick in their own half near midfield. Laporte saw Heron goalkeeper Drake Callender far off his line and then proceeded to launch a rocket shot from way downtown.
Aymeric Laporte free kick vs Miami
للتاريخ يا لابورت.. ثالث الأهداف النصراوية ⚽#النصر_انترميامي #كأس_موسم_الرياض | #SSC pic.twitter.com/NDheLNMmN0
— SSC (@ssc_sports) February 1, 2024
Stop that Laporte. pic.twitter.com/ifDx3gutMG
— Stop That Football (@stopthatfooty) February 1, 2024
Perhaps the most impressive part of Laporte’s free kick goal was the ball not even touching the ground before finding the back of the net. The Spanish defender doesn’t score too many goals with this one being his best.
The rest of the game was Miami taking a beating with Al Nassr managing to record more shots on target (14) than the Herons recorded shots (12).
Talisca netted a hat trick with goals in the 10th, 51st and 73rd minute while Mohammed Maran and Otávio also got on the scoresheet for Al Nassr.
We don’t even want to know what the final score would have been had Ronaldo and Sadio Mané been on the field.
Messi came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute, but it was more for show than anything else as Al Nassr already had a 6-0 lead.
The Herons’ preseason record now sits at three losses, one draw, no wins and a negative eight goal difference. Miami have also only managed to score in one of their four preseason games.
Arguments can be made that these are meaningless preseason games to get the team in shape, however it still doesn’t give Major League Soccer the best look. If the league’s most popular team goes on a world tour of losing it doesn’t reflect great on the league.
Perhaps Sunday’s friendly against a Hong Kong all-star team will go smoother than the start of the tour.
Al Nassr vs. Inter Miami highlights
