Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be playing against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on Thursday due to a calf injury said Al Nassr head coach Luis Castro.
Castro said that Ronaldo is in the final stages of his recovery and won’t be able to play in the friendly. Many fans had dubbed the game as the “Last Dance” between two of the greatest soccer players the world has ever seen.
Why is Ronaldo not playing vs Messi’s Inter Miami
Al-Nassr confirm Cristiano Ronaldo will not play against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on Thursday.
No last dance pic.twitter.com/L88uXOUKTu— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 31, 2024
OFFICIAL: Al-Nassr manager Luís Castro confirms Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Thursday's friendly match against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami pic.twitter.com/Vr1tQTop2x
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 31, 2024
Messi, 36, and Ronaldo, who turns 39 next week, have faced off 37 times throughout their careers. The world was hoping to see a 38th, however that now looks highly unlikely.
Major League Soccer and the Saudi Pro League don’t cross paths at all with Thursday’s friendly being the only real chance to put Ronaldo and Messi on a field together.
Thursday’s friendly game, which kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass, will go on as Messi and the Herons seek their first preseason victory after a draw to El Salvador’s national team and losses to FC Dallas and Al Hilal.
If soccer’s two superstars never play again then the head-to-head record between the two ends with 17 Messi wins, 11 Ronaldo triumphs and nine draws.
