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Al Nassr crushed Inter Miami 6-0 as injury ruled Cristiano\u00a0Ronaldo<\/a>\u00a0out of a much-hyped showdown with Lionel Messi<\/a>, who was limited to a late substitute appearance in Thursday’s friendly in Riyadh. Ronaldo’s calf injury prompted Al Nassr to cancel their two-game China tour last week and it denied him what could have potentially been a last match against longtime rival Messi. The pair have won a combined 13 Ballon d’Or awards, with Messi taking home the prize for a record eighth time last year. Their most recent meeting came in January 2023 when\u00a0Ronaldo\u00a0played in a Saudi select team beaten 5-4 by Messi’s PSG.\u00a0 Instead, Brazilian Talisca upstaged the illustrious duo with a hat-trick as the Saudi Pro League side demolished their Major League Soccer opponents, scoring three times in the first 12 minutes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The reaction of Ronaldo and Messi after Al Nassr third goal.<\/p>\n https:\/\/t.co\/DAhcNfTd7Z<\/a><\/p>\n
Otavio drilled in the opener as Miami lost the ball trying to play out from the back, bringing\u00a0Ronaldo\u00a0to his feet to applaud from the stands.\u00a0<\/p>\n A sliding Talisca turned in Al Nassr’s second as the visitors again paid the price for conceding possession near their own box. \u00a0<\/p>\n Aymeric Laporte<\/a> scored the goal of the night, catching Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender off his line as he belted in a long-range free-kick from deep inside his own half.<\/p>\n Talisca got his second from the penalty spot minutes after half-time and Mohammed Maran looped in a header to compound Miami’s misery.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Look what Saudi are doing to Messi#Messi<\/a> #ronaldo<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RjFmm7zwQD<\/a><\/p>\n
The American side were clearly feeling the effects of a globe-trotting pre-season tour, but the gulf in class was also stark, despite the presence of former Barcelona stars Luis Suarez<\/a>, Sergio Busquets<\/a> and Jordi Alba<\/a>.<\/p>\n Talisca completed his treble and performed\u00a0Ronaldo’s signature celebration, before Messi trotted on for the final seven minutes with his team trailing by six goals.<\/p>\n Miami continue their preparations for the new MLS season, which starts February 21, by heading to Asia for games in Hong Kong and Japan.<\/p>\n They played El Salvador and fellow MLS side FC Dallas before flying to the Middle East.<\/p>\n (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Topics mentioned in this article <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p><\/div>\n
\n\u2014 CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) February 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n\u2014 Underground Guy (@Undergroundguyx) February 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n