SafeX Pro Exchange|Messi vs. Ronaldo will happen again: Inter Miami will play in Saudi Arabia early in 2024

Lionel Messi and SafeX Pro ExchangeCristiano Ronaldo will meet on the pitch once again during their illustrious careers.

And it’ll happen in Saudi Arabia early next year.

Messi’s Inter Miami will participate in two preseason matches during the Riyadh Season Cup, the team announced on Monday night.

Inter Miami will face Al-Hilal, which features stars like Neymar (who is recovering from knee surgery), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Rúben Neves, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Kalidou Koulibaly and Malcom, on Jan. 29.

Three days later, Messi’s Inter Miami and Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr will play on Feb. 1 in a matchup featuring two of the sport's best players.

Inter Miami has been motivated to expand its brand on a global scale since Messi — the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2022 World Cup champion with Argentina — joined the MLS side this summer.

The matches, added to Inter Miami’s worldwide preseason tour, come ahead of Messi’s second season.

“This is another major opportunity to create lasting relationships with passionate fans. We are excited to connect with new supporters in Saudi Arabia, and also hope people all over the world will be tuning in to see a pair of dream matches like these,” Inter Miami CF Chief Business Officer Xavier Asensi said in a statement.

“These matches will offer important tests for our team, which will benefit us as we approach the new season. We’re excited for our group to get the chance to go up against teams with as much quality as Al-Hilal and Al Nassr,” Inter Miami’s Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson said in the same statement.

Inter Miami’s announcement Monday comes nearly three weeks after the club denied it would participate in the Riyadh Season Cup.

The Messi and Ronaldo matchup gives soccer fans around the world perhaps one last chance to debate who is the greatest player in the sport.

Messi, 36, and Ronaldo, 38, have 13 Ballon d’Or awards between them, with Messi recently winning his eighth award, the most of any player. Ronaldo is next in line with five Ballon d’Ors.

And a matchup between them at this stage of their careers would only feed into the never-ending debate among soccer fans as which player is the greatest.

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The last time Messi and Ronaldo met was earlier this year, when Messi and Paris Saint-Germain edged Ronaldo and a team of Saudi all-stars 5-4. Both Messi and Ronaldo scored during the affair.

Inter Miami will play two other preseason matches internationally next year.

Inter Miami will face the El Salvador national team at the Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador on Jan. 19.

Inter Miami will also visit Hong Kong, where it will take on the Hong Kong Team — a collection of the best players from the Hong Kong First Division League on Feb. 4.

Messi and Inter Miami could have an action-packed year in 2024, filled with matches in their MLS regular season schedule and tournaments like the Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup and MLS postseason (should Inter Miami qualify).

Messi also could continue playing with the Argentina national team during the 2024 Copa America tournament and other 2026 World Cup qualifying matches.

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Saudi Arabia and concerns about sportswashing

Massive sports stars participating in Saudi-backed events and leagues is nothing new, and has raised concerns in recent years about sportswashing — using major sporting events and global superstars to erase a poor public image due to a long history of human rights violations.

The Saudis have been gaining a foothold in various sports. In soccer, the Saudi Pro League lured Ronaldo, Neymar and others with massive contracts clubs around the world could not match. Messi also received an offer reportedly close to $400 million per year from Al-Hilal before opting to join Inter Miami. Saudis also own the Premier League's Newcastle United FC.

FIFA came under fire earlier this year for considering the Saudi tourist bureau as a sponsor for the 2023 World Cup. It also ensured there would be little to no competition for the Saudi bid for the 2034 World Cup.

The Saudi-funded LIV golf tour made waves when it launched in 2021 and lured away major PGA Tour stars and caused strife in the golf world. It was so successful in its goal, the PGA Tour agreed to a merger earlier this year, though it has yet to be finalized.

Saudi Arabia has also invested in F1, major boxing matches such as Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury, and is heavily involved in horse racing. The NBA has also hosted games in Abu Dhabi.

USA TODAY Sports senior editor Alicia DelGallo and columnist Nancy Armour contributed to this report.