Ronaldo scores brace, Messi one in nine-goal thriller Saudi exhibition
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were on target as Paris Saint-Germain defeated Riyadh All-Star XI 5-4 in a thrilling friendly match in Saudi Arabia on Thursday night.
The Riyadh All-Star team included players from Saudi Arabia league giants Al Nassr and Al Hilal. A team in which Ronaldo was named the captain.
In the highly-anticipated game at King Fahd International Stadium, Messi opened the scoring for his French barely three minutes into the match before Ronaldo, who was making his Saudi Arabia debut, equalised from the spot kick.
The 37-year-old immediately hit the famous ‘sui’ celebration echoed by thousands of football fans in the fully-packed stadium.
Marquinhos returned PSG to the lead once again before Ronaldo netted his brace to level the game again for the Kingdom of Saudi representatives just before the halftime whistle.
Both football icons were subbed off at the hour mark of the encounter as the second half witnessed a combined five more goals from Jang Hyun-soo and Talisca for Riyadh All-Star and Sergio Ramos, Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Ekitiké for PSG.
The scintillating match ended in a nine-goal thriller win for Lionel Messi and his French champions side to clinch the exhibition game trophy.
The match will likely be the last that would feature the two football superpowers playing each other.
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