Lionel Messi will start on the BENCH in Inter Miami’s friendly against Al-Nassr – who are missing Cristiano Ronaldo – after going for an MRI amid injury fears

Lionel Messi will start Inter Miami’s friendly against Al-Nassr on the bench and is unlikely to play as a precaution after he went for an MRI scan.

It comes after his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo was ruled out of the friendly in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Previous reports said Messi would not suit up but it now seems as though he will take a seat on the bench.

Billed as possibly the final time Messi and Ronaldo would play against each other, it is now likely neither of them will feature.

Ronaldo is continuing to recover from a calf problem. His injury caused his Saudi Arabian club to cancel two friendlies in China last week.

Fans hope to catch a glimpse of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi – although they’re unlikely to play

Messi and Ronaldo faced off a year ago in Saudi Arabia as PSG  faced a Riyadh All-Star XI but, at 36 and 38 respectively, they are in the twilight of their careers.

The Herons’ matchup vs. Al-Nassr will be their second preseason test in Saudi Arabia, as they lost 4-3 to Al-Hilal on Monday.

Any injury to Messi will lead to more question marks about the necessity for them to embark on such an arduous pre-season tour.

For Miami, Thursday’s match will continue the club’s globe-trotting preseason, which will see it fly over 23,000 miles as it readies for the upcoming MLS season next month,

Miami has already played the El Salvador national team and FC Dallas, and will also face a Hong Kong league XI and Vissel Kobe next week. 

The club will then return to South Florida to play one final friendly vs. Newell’s Old Boys – Messi’s childhood club. 

Ronaldo and Messi last faced off on January 19, 2023, as PSG played a Riyadh All-Star team

Miami, who recently signed Luis Suarez to a squad already including Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, won the Leagues Cup last season but failed to qualify for the postseason.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, spoke last week about Al-Nassr canceling its China games, claiming that the club would be back in the country at a later date.

‘As you know, I played 22 years in football and I’m the player who doesn’t have too many injuries. So, I’m really sad, because Al Nassr and myself, we come here to China to enjoy the tour,’ he told reporters.

‘So, as you can see, I feel sad. I know you are sad, too, especially the people who love Cristiano. But we have to see this in a good way.

‘When I say in a good way, I mean, we [have] not canceled the game. We’re going to postpone the game. We want to be back here to your country. We will be back.’