Ronaldo Faces Messi in Saudi Debut Match

Likely to Play as Captain of the Yonhap All-Star Team
Al Hilal's Jang Hyunsoo Also Included in Starting Lineup

[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Football player Cristiano Ronaldo (38, Portugal) is set to make his Saudi Arabia debut against his 'life rival' Lionel Messi (36, Argentina).

According to major foreign media on the 16th (local time), the match between Messi's team Paris Saint-Germain (PSG, France) and the Al Nassr-Al Hilal United All-Star team at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on the 19th is expected to be Ronaldo's debut game.

Turki Sheikh, head of the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority, posted a video on his social media on the 16th showing Ronaldo being given the captain's armband, previewing Ronaldo's 'captain debut'.

Al Nassr announced on the 31st of last month that Ronaldo transferred under the condition of receiving an annual salary and advertising fees totaling 200 million euros (270 billion KRW) per year until June 2025. Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia on the 3rd and held his signing ceremony.

[Photo by AFP·Yonhap News]

Ronaldo has not yet played in a match. While playing for Manchester United in England, he appeared in the Premier League match against Everton on April 9, 2021, which ended in a 0-1 loss, and after striking a 14-year-old boy's phone with his hand, he was suspended for two matches and fined 50,000 pounds (76 million KRW).

The suspension continued even after his transfer. According to Article 12, Paragraph 1 of FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, any suspension not fully served at the time of transfer?up to 4 matches or 3 months?does not disappear even if the player changes leagues. This is why he has not yet appeared on the field wearing his new uniform.

The showdown between Messi and Ronaldo, called 'life rivals,' may be their last. Local experts see a low possibility of Ronaldo returning to European leagues, making it uncertain if the two players will face each other again.

Also participating in this match is Jang Hyun-soo, who transferred from FC Tokyo (Japan) to Al Hilal in the summer of 2019. Jang Hyun-soo is regarded as the league's best defender, having led his team to three Saudi Arabian league titles and two AFC Champions League victories.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.