In the early hours of Friday morning (20), a superb warm-up match saw Cristiano Ronaldo's Riyadh Stars take on European giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), with the 37-year-old Portuguese legend returning from injury as a tiger, scoring two solo goals and helping his team to a 4-5 defeat. After the game, he pressed Messi, honored as the best player, this warm-up game can be said to be C-Ro's magnificent start.
The match seemed like an elaborate welcome gift for C-Lo from the Saudi Arabian soccer community, with Lionel Messi as the opponent, and the two superstars exchanged fierce blows. Just three minutes into the match, Messi scored first for PSG with an easy goal. However, in the 34th minute, C-Ro quickly replied with a goal to equalize the score with a penalty kick.
PSG appeared to have a desire to let the game go, with Zouan Barnett receiving a red card in the 39th minute for an infringement on Gonzalo Martinez, but the Ligue 1 side still had the advantage of playing with one man less, and center back Marcellus Goliath scored to go over the line again. Nima was awarded a penalty, but his shot was sent into the stands. In first half stoppage time, C-Ro added a second in front of the goal to give Riyadh Stars a 2-2 equalizer.
In the second half, PSG center Shaji Oramos scored to take the lead again. Riyadh Stars South Korean center Jang Hyun-soo scored a header to draw the two teams 2-2. 58 minutes later, Messi gave an assist to Kilian McBarbie, who scored from a penalty kick to become the top scorer of the match.
The duel between the two Ballon d'Or winners came to an end in the 61st minute when C-Ro was replaced and Messi left the field. As the match came to a close, PSG's Igidić scored a goal to extend the lead to 5-3, and in stoppage time, Riyadh Stars striker Talisker pulled one back to make it 4-5. With nine goals in the match, the fans were in for a treat.
C-Ro will be expected to show his heroics again in the early hours of next Monday (23rd) when he plays for Ainas at home to Ittifaq in the Saudi League after completing this exciting duel.
