The Spanish media enjoyed the demonstration match between the Riyadh All Stars XI and Paris Saint-Germain. The protagonists of the last dance, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, according to the Spanish newspapers, certainly did not disappoint. The Portuguese, who was part of a team with players from Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, was accurate twice; Messi scored once for PSG. In Spain people wonder whether Ronaldo has not left Europe too early.
It was eagerly awaited in the Spanish media el ultimo baile: the last dance led by Ronaldo and Messi. Where the battle between the two greats was previously mainly fought on Spanish soil, this time the completely sold-out King Fahd International Stadium was the battleground of the clash between the former arch rivals. Both Al-Nassr’s attacker and the Argentinian played for an hour in the match that was eventually won by the Parisians: 4-5.
Afterwards, the newspapers were particularly pleased with the passion with which Ronaldo approached the friendly duel. He was eager to perform and did not hide his joy after making the hits, as various journalists note. “The key question after this match is: didn’t Ronaldo go to Saudi Arabia too soon?” Markwhich believes the 37-year-old striker reached a much higher level than several names on the PSG side.
“Keylor Navas has aged ten football years in recent months. The goalkeeper already disappointed in the service of Costa Rica during the World Cup, and again he made a huge mistake ahead of Ronaldo’s penalty moment. Although the latter plays in Saudi Arabia, it cannot be said that Navas, for example, reaches a higher level than the Portuguese. Sergio Ramos also failed to reach the desired level. The Seville-born defender was not unpunished in both the 2-2 and the 3-3”, concludes Spain’s best-selling sports newspaper.
at the same time ASH generally praised the spectacle, which the Madrid daily called ‘the best friendly match ever’. “The confrontation was not disappointing at any point and Ronaldo’s fanaticism was certainly impressive. Messi, who decorated a penalty and scored, also reached a high level.” Mundo Deportivo speaks of a true goal feast that was completely dominated by Ronaldo and Messi, who ‘gave everything’.