March 13, 2024
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have already played two preseason matches ahead of the 2024 MLS season, the start of which is now less than a month away.
But Year Two of Project Messi really kicks into gear this week. The GOAT and his new-look Herons — striker Luis Suárez arrived in South Florida this winter, joining former Barcelona teammates Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets on Inter's roster — are in Saudi Arabia to play a pair of friendlies, beginning with Monday's contest against Al Hilal.
The second is the big one, though. Thursday's meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr would mark the 37th and final time the best two players of their generation square off if Ronaldo is available. It remains to be seen if he'll be recovered from the minor injury that has forced Al-Nassr to reschedule a pair of matches in China, but the appeal of that matchup is obvious if Ronaldo can participate.
Yet beyond the Messi-Ronaldo storyline lurks perhaps an even more interesting subplot. These two games can also be viewed as a battle for bragging rights between two of Planet Futbol's fastest growing circuits.
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