Cristiano Ronaldo posts classy message to Lionel Messi after all-star clash against old Ballon d’Or rival
CRISTIANO RONALDO shared a classy message about Lionel Messi after the pair went head-to-head in Saudi Arabia.
The pair have been rivals for years and battled it out for possibly one last time as an Saudi All-Star XI played Paris Saint-Germain in Riyadh.
The match ended 5-4 to PSG with both legends getting on the scoresheet.
Messi struck in the third minute but Ronaldo hit back – first with a penalty and the second from close range after his header hit the post.
Ronaldo also produced a stunning piece of skill to nutmeg Carlos Soler and the Portuguese was named as the man of the match.
After the game the superstar revealed his delight at returning to action – this was his first game since the World Cup.
And he also paid tribute to Messi in the Instagram post, writing: “So happy to be back on the pitch, and on the score sheet!!
“And nice to see some old friends!”
Ronaldo also came out of the match with a bruised face following a blow from goalkeeper Keylor Navas, for which he received a penalty.
And Mbappe came over to check on him, having idolised the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as a kid.
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Messi, Marquinhos, and Sergio Ramos scored either side of half-time to put PSG 3-2 up, before Jang Hyun-soo pulled another back for the Saudi All-Stars.
Mbappe, 24, scored from the penalty spot on the hour mark, before he, Ronaldo and Messi were substituted.
Hugo Ekitike added a fifth for PSG, before Talisca grabbed a consolation in stoppage time – with the French champions running out 5-4 winners.