Paris, Europe Brief News – French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have confirmed plans for a mid-season trip to the Middle East.
PSG will leave France on January 17 and visit Doha in Qatar and then Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, where they will play a friendly match at King Fahd Stadium on January 19.
The exhibition game will see PSG take on an all-star XI featuring players from top Saudi clubs Al-Hilal and Al Nassr.
Recent Al Nassr signing Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to play for the Saudi all-star XI, while Lionel Messi will likely line-up for PSG.
Ronaldo and Argentina’s Messi have dominated the sport over the last 15 years, winning the Ballon d’Or 12 times between them.
Their rivalry grew during the nine years in which they faced off against each other in Spain – when Messi was starring for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid.
Ronaldo became a free agent in November 2022 after leaving Manchester United by mutual consent.
The Portuguese forward is set to make his first appearance for Al Nassr when they take on Ettifaq in the Saudi top flight on January 22.
World football rules require the 37-year-old star to finish serving a two-match suspension imposed by the English Football Association in November ahead of the World Cup. Ronaldo slapped a mobile phone out of a fan’s hand following a game against Everton last April.
The latest and possibly final chapter in Ronaldo’s illustrious career comes weeks after Portugal’s World Cup quarterfinal exit in Qatar, where Messi lifted the trophy for Argentina.
