Ronaldo and Messi Score in 5-4 Thriller

Lionel Messi of PSG in January 2023
Lionel Messi with PSG in January 2023. Photo by David Winter/Shutterstock (13700596ka)

Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals and Lionel Messi scored one during a nine-goal thriller between Paris Saint-Germain and the Riyadh All-Stars XI, a team consisting of players from the Saudi Pro League clubs Al-Nassr and Al Hilal.

Messi scored the first goal of the game for PSG while Ronaldo, who made his first return to football since the World Cup, grabbed the equalizer from the penalty spot.

The game heated up near the end of the first half when PSG defender Juan Bernat was sent off. Despite being a man down, PSG restored their lead through Marquinos after which Neymar missed a penalty. Ronaldo grabbed his second goal of the game before the halftime break after slotting in the rebound after his well-struck header hit the post.

Center back Sergio Ramos put PSG 3-2 up before both Ronaldo and Messi were substituted around the 60th-minute mark, bringing an end to their game. With Ronaldo having departed European football, there is a possibility that this game was the last time that he and Messi would face one another on the same pitch.

PSG began to run away with the game when Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty and Hugo Ekitike handed them a 5-3 lead. While Anderson Talisca pulled one back in the 94th minute, it proved too little too late as PSG held on for the win.