Al-Nassr humiliate Messi’s Inter Miami as Cristiano Ronaldo watches from stands

What was billed as a possible final meeting between old rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo did not materialise, but there was no doubt which of the superstars enjoyed Al-Nassr’s 6-0 defeat to Inter Miami more on Thursday.

Messi spent all his minutes on the bench in Miami and looked increasingly gloomy as Al-Nassr, cheered on by Ronaldo perched high in the Kingdom Arena and recovering from a calf injury, ran riot in this friendly, scoring three goals in the first twelve. minutes.

Within three minutes, Otavio fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner of Miami’s goal, prompting his Portuguese compatriot Ronaldo to cheer and clap. Three minutes later it happened again when Brazilian Anderson Talisca scored from close range.

Aymeric Laporte then did the opposite, sending a free kick from the Al-Nassr half over the head of Miami keeper Drake Callender, who sprinted back to his goal in a vain attempt to keep the shot out.

The MLS team, losers 4-3 to Nassr’s Riyadh rivals Al-Hilal three days earlier in the first match of their Saudi Arabian tour, offered few attacking options in the first half, apart from a Luis Suárez volley.

The scoring continued after the break for Al-Nassr, who also missed Sadio Mane, who is on international duty with Senegal, and Saudi five players representing their country at the Asian Cup.

After 51 minutes, Talisca scored his second from the spot and Mohammed Maran headed in the fifth halfway through half-time. There was still time for Talisca to complete his hat trick and humiliate Miami.

Messi came on in the closing stages, but made little impression.

Miami’s preseason tour continues in Asia with games in Hong Kong on Sunday and Japan three days later.