Football fans the world over have this evening been dealt something of a collective blow.
This comes in the form of confirmation that the expected final on-pitch meeting between iconic figures Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will not play out.
Al-Nassr and Inter Miami are set to lock horns on Thursday night, in a high-profile friendly clash as part of the latter’s preparations for the new MLS campaign.
And though the fixture, in and of itself, is still indeed scheduled to go ahead, Messi and Ronaldo’s ‘last dance’ – as it has been dubbed – will not.
This comes amid confirmation that the latter is suffering with an injury.
Speaking to the media in anticipation of his side’s upcoming outing, Al-Nassr boss Luis Castro admitted that star frontman Ronaldo will play no part, amid his ongoing recovery from a calf problem.
‘Ronaldo is in the final part of his recovery to join the group. We hope that in the next few days he can start working with the team. He will be absent from the game,’ Castro explained.
Will the two greatest players of our generation ever share the same pitch again? As much is beginning to look increasingly unlikely…
Conor Laird | GSFN
