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Introduction
For decades, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have fascinated football fans worldwide with their extraordinary skills and fierce rivalry.
The debate over who deserves the title of the greatest of all time (GOAT) has been a topic of intense discussion.
However, with Messi leading Argentina to a historic World Cup victory in 2022, the scales may finally tip in his favor.
As both players enter the twilight of their careers, the opportunity to witness their final encounter arises in the form of the 2024 Riyadh Season Cup.
In this article, we will guide you through all the details of this eagerly anticipated tournament, including how to watch the matches and live stream the Messi vs Ronaldo showdown.
The 2024 Riyadh Season Cup
The 2024 Riyadh Season Cup is a friendly football tournament that takes place during the ongoing 2023-24 Saudi Pro League season and serves as a prologue to the 2024 MLS regular season.
This competition is part of the Riyadh Season, a sports and entertainment festival sponsored by the Saudi Arabian state to boost tourism in the region during the winter months.
Originally scheduled for 2022, the inaugural Riyadh Season Cup was postponed to 2023 due to unforeseen circumstances.
It featured a highly anticipated match between Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, with Messi among their ranks, and a Riyadh All-Stars squad led by Ronaldo, who had recently made the move to Saudi Arabia from Manchester United.
Participating Teams
The 2024 Riyadh Season Cup will be a three-team round-robin tournament featuring Inter Miami, a heavyweight team from Major League Soccer (MLS), Al Nassr, a prominent Saudi Pro League outfit, and Al Hilal, another SPL side.
While this tournament marks the initial participation for all three teams, several players who previously featured for the Riyadh All-Stars or Paris Saint-Germain in the 2023 edition will be taking part.
How to Watch the 2024 Riyadh Season Cup
Football fans in the United States and the United Kingdom can catch the action from the 2024 Riyadh Season Cup through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Additionally, viewers outside of North America can access the coverage via DAZN. MLS Season Pass on Apple TV offers comprehensive coverage of Major League Soccer, from the preseason to the finals.
The subscription is available at $14.99/£14.99 per month and $99.00/£99.00 per season in the US and UK, respectively.
Messi vs. Ronaldo: The Last Showdown
The most highly anticipated aspect of the 2024 Riyadh Season Cup is the clash between Messi and Ronaldo.
These two footballing icons last faced each other during the previous staging of the tournament in 2023.
Their teams, Paris Saint-Germain and Riyadh All-Stars, engaged in an exhilarating nine-goal spectacle that ended with PSG emerging victorious with a 5-4 scoreline.
Ronaldo showed his brilliance by scoring a brace, while Messi found the back of the net once for the visitors.
This encounter took place shortly after Messi’s triumph in the Qatar 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
Key Fixtures of the 2024 Riyadh Season Cup
The 2024 Riyadh Season Cup schedule includes a series of exciting matches that will show the talents of the participating teams. Here are the key fixtures to look forward to:
| Date | Fixture | Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, January 29 | Inter Miami v Al Hilal | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV |
| Thursday, February 1 | Al Nassr v Inter Miami | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV |
| Thursday, February 8 | Al Hilal vs Al Nassr | N/A |
Pre-Season Preparations for Inter Miami
Inter Miami, the MLS heavyweight team participating in the 2024 Riyadh Season Cup, has been diligently preparing for the tournament.
In addition to their domestic preseason activities, they have already played matches against El Salvador and FC Dallas.
As part of their international preparations, they will also face a Hong Kong League Team and Vissel Kobe in Tokyo during their tour of Eastern Asia.
Finally, they will conclude their pre-season preparations with a game against Newell’s Old Boys in Fort Lauderdale.
Conclusion
The 2024 Riyadh Season Cup promises to be a thrilling football tournament, with the spotlight firmly fixed on the final encounter between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
As these two legends of the game prepare to face off in what could be their last showdown, football fans around the world eagerly anticipate witnessing their extraordinary skills one more time.
With the availability of live streaming options like MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and DAZN, supporters can ensure they don’t miss a moment of this historic event.
So mark your calendars and get ready to witness the ultimate clash of two footballing titans in the 2024 Riyadh Season Cup.
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