RIYADH SEASON CUP
Messi vs Ronaldo: 2024 Last Dance date confirmed
It’s official, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will face off for one last time in Saudi Arabia in February 2024.
The protagonists of one of the greatest rivalries in soccer history are set to meet again. Opinions are divided as to who is the greatest footballer of all-time, it’s entirely subjective but Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are right up there with the best. They have taken part in some of the most memorable moments the game has seen and are set to share the same pitch, on opposing sides, for the 37th and possibly the last time.
With Cristiano set to celebrate his 39th birthday in February and Messi to turn 37 in June, this will likely be the last time they face each other.
First week in February
Almería owner Turki Al-Sheikh confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that Messi’s Inter Miami and Cristiano’s Al-Nassr will take part in the Riyadh Season Cup in February 2024 - an encounter being billed as The Last Dance.
A statement read: “Riyadh Season and Inter Miami CF have agreed to hold the Riyadh Season Cup matches in Riyadh as part of Riyadh Season activities. In a tournament that brings together the two Saudi clubs, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, and Inter Miami CF, the matches will be played in the format of a league system. The league schedule will be announced at a later time.
“The tournament is scheduled to be held in the first week of February 2024, with the participation of the stars of all participating clubs, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in the Kingdom Arena, which was recently inaugurated at the opening ceremony of the fourth edition of Riyadh Season.
“The world’s most prominent football stars will participate in the tournament, including the Saudi Al-Nassr Club player, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo and the American club Inter Miami Argentine star Lionel Messi in a confrontation that will be the talk of the world, dubbed “The Last Dance”.
“The tournament will also witness the presence of the stars of Al-Hilal Saudi Club, runner-up in the Club World Cup, lead by Serbian star Aleksandar Mitrovic, and the best player in Asia, captain Salem Al-Dawsari.
“H.E. Turki Alalshikh welcomed the participation of Inter Miami CF, noting that the tournament will have a global following due to the prominent international football stars who play for the three clubs. He stressed that the league is an extension of the major international events that Riyadh Season presents to visitors and to the world. For his part, Mr Jorge Mas welcomed the participation of Inter Miami CF in Riyadh Season, praising the great development witness in the field of football in Saudi Arabia, in addition to the great transformation witness in the entertainment sector in the Kingdom”.