Reported by Xiaozhong, Sports Weekly’s all-media reporter
On January 6, in the 12th round of the Saudi championship, Riyadh defeated Altai 2-0 at home, and Brazilian striker Talisca scored two goals. The match was postponed for a day, but Ronaldo has not yet managed to make his debut. Although Ronaldo’s transfer certificate has been obtained, it includes a two-match suspension. In addition, Riyadh Victory originally had 8 foreign players, which has reached the maximum limit of the number of foreign players, it is necessary to deregister a foreign player in the team to complete Ronaldo’s registration. Therefore, in the first battle on January 6, Ronaldo could only sit in the stands and watch.
In an interview with Agence France-Presse on Jan. 5, a senior Riyadh Victory official explained, “Riyadh Victory did not register for Ronaldo because there is no foreign aid quota. In order for Ronaldo to register, a foreign aid must leave. Either transfer, or terminate the contract.” According to outside speculation, the most likely to make room for Ronaldo is 29-year-old Uzbekistan striker Jalolidin Masharipo.
Unable to play against Galtai, the first show has been postponed, but Ronaldo will face Messi in a January 19 friendly. On January 5, Gallardo, the former head coach of River Plate, announced that the United team of Riyadh Victory and Saudi Hilal will play a friendly match with Paris Saint-Germain on January 19, and it will be the team named “Head United team manager at Riyadh Season. In the announcement, Gallardo said, “I would like to announce that on January 19, I will coach Riyadh season, which consists of the victorious players from Hilal and Riyadh. See you soon”.
Gallardo has been out of work since his contract with River Plate ended at the end of last year. While playing only one friendly, time is short, but he will have the honor of being one of the coaches who coached Ronaldo, while opponents Paris Saint-Germain have superstars like Messi, Neymar and Mbappe. “Riyadh Season” is an activity launched by the Saudi government to promote and advertise Saudi tourism. The friendly match is expected to be played in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is rich and being rich is stubborn, it’s not something anyone can do to allow Messi and Ronaldo to compete in the same arena.
The friendly on January 19 will be the first match between Messi and Ronaldo after the World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo left Europe and went to Saudi Arabia. In the future, if it weren’t for friendlies or the Club World Cup and other events, it would be difficult for him and Messi to have a chance to fight at club level. At national level, it cannot be said that there are no chances for him and Messi to meet again, but there won’t be too many. The January 19 battle will also be the first time Ronaldo and Messi have faced each other in a friendly between clubs.
Previously, Ronaldo and Messi met 36 times, 6 times in the Champions League, 18 times in La Liga, 5 times in the Copa del Rey, 5 times in the Spanish Super Cup and 2 times in friendlies of the national team. 36 matches, Ronaldo 11 wins, 9 draws and 16 losses, Messi 16 wins, 9 draws and 11 losses. Ronaldo scored 21 goals, Messi scored 22 goals. The pair last met in the UEFA Champions League group stage on 8 December 2020. Juventus beat Barcelona 3-0 at the Camp Nou and Ronaldo scored twice on penalties. After two years, Melo will play against each other again, which is very exciting.
