Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the much-anticipated reunion with Lionel Messi in an exhibition match between Al-Nassr and Inter Miami in Riyadh due to an injury, according to Al-Nassr coach Luis Castro. Ronaldo is reportedly recovering from a calf injury and is in the final stage of recuperation, making him unavailable for the exhibition game against Inter Miami.
The matchup between Messi and Ronaldo, who were long-time rivals in Spain while playing for Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, was considered a highlight of Inter Miami’s pre-season tour. The two football superstars have won a combined 13 of the last 15 Ballon d’Or awards for the world’s best player.
The injury to Ronaldo had previously led to the postponement of two exhibition matches in China for Al-Nassr. Messi scored in Miami’s 4-3 defeat to Al-Hilal on Monday, and the absence of Ronaldo from the reunion adds a twist to the eagerly awaited meeting of the football legends.
