Al-Nassr will face an interesting test when they take on Inter Miami in a club friendly today. While fans have been waiting for this fixture for months, many are disappointed as Cristiano Ronaldo will not play against Lionel Messi and company.
The Portuguese star picked up a calf injury during the Saudi Pro League’s midseason break early in 2024, which is why Al-Nassr have already postponed two friendlies in China last week.
The Saudi team was expected to play against against Shanghai Shenhua and Zhejiang, but it ultimately agreed to find a new date for these matches as Ronaldo was unable to play in front of his fans.
Many expected the former Real Madrid star to be ready for a highly anticipated matchup against Messi, whom he hasn’t faced since a friendly between the Riyadh All Stars and PSG in January 2023. But his return to the field will take a bit longer.
Cristiano Ronaldo greets Lionel Messi prior to a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona in 2017.
Cristiano Ronaldo not playing against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami
On Wednesday, Al-Nassr manager Luis Castro suggested that the Inter Miami fixture may come too soon for Cristiano Ronaldo to return. He didn’t confirm whether the Portuguese would remain on the sidelines, but on Thursday Castro didn’t even include Ronaldo on the bench.
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Ronaldo not playing for Al-Nassr vs. Inter Miami: Lineups for 2024 friendly
“Cristiano is in the final part of his participation to return with the group. We anticipate that he will be able to return to work with the team in the coming days. At this time, he will be absent from the (Inter Miami) game,” Castro said at a press conference.
