PSG v Saudi all-stars: Ronaldo and Messi star in Riyadh goals spectacular

PSG edge Saudi Arabia newcomer Ronaldo's Allstar XI 5-4 at King Fahd Stadium

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  Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the second goal for Riyadh All-Stars against PSG at the King Fahd University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 19, 2023. AP

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  Lionel Messi is congratulated by his PSG teammates after opening the scoring.

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  Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the first goal for Riyadh All-Stars. AP

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  Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring Riyadh All-Stars' first goal. AFP

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  Kylian Mbappe scores the fourth goal for PSG. AFP

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  Riyadh All-Star's South Korean defender Jang Hyun-soo levels at 3-3. AFP

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  Cristiano Ronaldo takes a throw-in. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

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  Cristiano Ronaldo prepares to take a penalty. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

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  Cristiano Ronaldo scores from the penalty spot for the Riyadh All-Stars. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

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  Cristiano Ronaldo in action against Paris Saint-Germain. AFP

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  PSG forward Lionel Messi next to long-time rival, Riyadh All-Star's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP

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  Cristiano Ronaldo greets Riyadh All-Stars' Argentinian coach Marcelo Gallardo after being substituted. AFP

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  Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his team's third goal. AFP

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  Riyadh All-Star's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo takes a shot. AFP

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  PSG's Kylian Mbappe greets Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP

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  Cristiano Ronaldo grimaces. AP

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  PSG's Hugo Ekitike (l) celebrates after scoring their fifth. AP

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  Lionel Messi takes a shot. AFP

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  PSG defender Juan Bernat is shown the red card by Qatari referee Abdulrahman al-Jassim. AFP

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  Juan Bernat fouls Riyadh All-Star's Saudi midfielder Salem al-Dawsari, leading to a red card. AFP

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  PSG's Lionel Messi scores the opening goal in Riyadh. AFP

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  Cristiano Ronaldo is challenged by PSG's Lionel Messi. AP

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  Cristiano Ronaldo and PSG's Marquinhos with officials before the match. Reuters

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  Paris Saint-Germain forwards Lionel Messi and Neymar ahead of the match. AFP

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  PSG''s Kylian Mbappe and Neymar warm up. AFP

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  A fan holds up a banner of Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo inside the stadium before the match. Reuters

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  Cristiano Ronaldo during the Riyadh All-Stars against PSG at the King Fahd University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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  Messi and Ronaldo vie for the ball during the Riyadh All-Stars against PSG at the King Fahd University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

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  Lionel Messi lines up before kick off. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

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  Lionel Messi shoots at goal. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

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  Saudi All-Stars in action against French champions PSG at the King Fahd University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi each got on the scoresheet in Riyadh on Thursday night, as the latter’s Paris Saint-Germain edged the former’s Allstar XI 5-4 in their exhibition match at King Fahd Stadium.

Ronaldo, who late last month signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, captained a composite side comprising players from his new club and cross-city rivals Al Hilal.

The match, entitled the Riyadh Season Cup, appeared to be close to a sell-out, with Paris Saint-Germain fielding a near full-strength line-up. Their starting XI included recent World Cup winner Messi, Qatar 2022 runner-up and top scorer Kylian Mbappe, and Brazil star Neymar.

Messi opened the scoring on the night on two minutes, the Argentina captain finishing expertly under Mohammed Al Owais after he was played in by Neymar. Moments later, Ronaldo tested Navas when he raced through, before Luiz Gustavo forced a fine save from the PSG goalkeeper.

Not to be outdone, Al Owais in the opposite goal denied Neymar, while Mbappe had a goal correctly ruled out for offside – Messi supplying the pass to send him clear.

Then, just after the half hour, Ronaldo won a penalty. The former Real Madrid forward contested an in-swinging free-kick with Navas, only for his ex-teammate to inadvertently catch Ronaldo in the face as he attempted to punch clear the ball.

Ronaldo picked himself up and brilliantly dispatched the spot-kick, much to the crowd’s delight. His trademark “Siuuuu” celebration chant rang around the stadium.

Not long after, Juan Bernat was given a straight red card for hacking down Salem Al Dawsari close to the halfway line.

Yet, almost immediately, PSG restored their lead. Three minutes from half-time, Mbappe curled a sublime cross into the Allstar penalty area, and centre-back Marquinhos supplied a superbly deft finish.

From there, a frenetic conclusion to the first half played out; Al Owais saved a weak penalty from Neymar after the Brazilian had been felled in the box by Ali Al Bulaihi – VAR was required – and, as half-time beckoned, Ronaldo pulled his team level.

He needed two bites at the cherry, though, his header deep into injury-time coming back off the post before he smashed home the rebound.

The second half began with nearly as much action. Navas produced a fantastic reaction save from Gonzalo Martinez, while teammate Anderson Talisca smashed a fierce left-footed drive inches beyond the PSG top corner.

But the Lique 1 champions edged out in front. On 53 minutes, Mbappe twisted full-back Saul Abdulhamid one way and the other, leaving Sergio Ramos – another former Ronaldo teammate - to stab his low centre into the Allstar goal.

It prompted another frantic spell. Three minutes later, Hilal defender Hyeon Soo-jang flicked a corner past Navas and, as the Allstar XI were presumably still delighting in drawing level, PSG won another penalty – Al Bulaihi blocked Messi’s goal-bound shot with his arm – and Mbappe took responsibility. The Frenchman sent Al Owais the wrong way to make it 4-3.

Both managers made a raft of substitutions shortly after the hour, with Messi, Mbappe and Ronaldo among those withdrawn.

With 12 minutes remaining, PSG extended their lead through substitute Hugo Ekitike’s powerful strike, although there was still time for Talisca to pull one back right at the death. It proved not to be enough – in the end, PSG triumphed by a solitary goal on a wholly entertaining night in Riyadh.