Messi and Ronaldo Steal the Show in Riyadh
PSG Edge Riyadh All-Star XI in Thrilling Friendly
Paris Saint-Germain edged the Riyadh All-Star XI 5-4 in a thrilling friendly on Thursday, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both scoring in the highly anticipated clash.
Messi opened the scoring for PSG in the third minute, but Ronaldo equalized for the Riyadh All-Stars in the 34th minute. Kylian Mbappe then put PSG ahead again two minutes later, before Ronaldo leveled the scores once more from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute.
Sergio Ramos restored PSG's lead in the 53rd minute, but Anderson Talisca equalized for the Riyadh All-Stars five minutes later. PSG took the lead for the fourth time when Hugo Ekitike scored in the 78th minute, but Cristiano Ronaldo completed his hat-trick in the 90th minute to set up a grandstand finish.
However, PSG held on to secure a narrow victory despite playing with 10 men for the majority of the second half after Juan Bernat was sent off for a second yellow card in the 39th minute.
The match was played in front of a sell-out crowd at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, and it lived up to the hype with both Messi and Ronaldo putting in impressive performances.
Messi, who scored a stunning free kick in the first half, was a constant threat throughout the match, while Ronaldo showed that he still has plenty to offer at the age of 38.
The friendly was part of PSG's mid-season tour of Saudi Arabia, and it was a valuable opportunity for the French champions to test their skills against a strong opponent.
The Riyadh All-Stars were made up of players from Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, and they gave PSG a run for their money throughout the match.
In the end, PSG's quality shone through, but the Riyadh All-Stars showed that they are a force to be reckoned with in Saudi Arabia.
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