Sports
Inter Miami suffers 6-0 defeat to Al-Nassr in frustrating Messi vs. Ronaldo Clash
Inter Miami faced a humiliating 6-0 defeat against Saudi club Al-Nassr on Thursday in a friendly match where Lionel Messi came on as a substitute in the final minutes, and Cristiano Ronaldo was sidelined due to injury.
This match was supposed to be a new chapter, and perhaps the last one, in the legendary rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo, the former stars of Barcelona and Real Madrid, who have a combined total of 13 Ballon d’Or awards.
The Argentine captain had a token presence on the Kingdom Arena pitch in Riyadh, entering in the 83rd minute when Inter was already trailing by six goals.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, watched the game from a box due to a calf problem he has been dealing with for days.
Inter, which had already suffered a 4-3 defeat to Al-Hilal in Riyadh on Monday, continues to leave a dismal impression in the preseason, accumulating three losses and one draw, with a goal difference of three goals scored and 11 conceded.
One of Al-Nassr’s goals was a spectacular long-range free-kick from Spanish international defender Aymeric Laporte from his own half.
The goal, making it 3-0 in the 12th minute, had an exuberant Cristiano Ronaldo on his feet, celebrating with arms raised.
Brazilian Anderson Talisca scored a hat-trick (minutes 2, 51 from the penalty spot, and 73), and goals were also netted by his compatriot Otávio (3) and Saudi Mohammed Maran (68′) for Al-Nassr, the second-placed team in the local league.
Inter’s coach, Gerardo Martino, kept Messi on the bench for much of the game due to precautionary reasons after feeling some physical discomfort on Monday, according to the Miami Herald.
Uruguayan Luis Suárez, the new signing for the MLS team, wasted several clear opportunities in the 69 minutes he was on the field.
- Ovation for Messi –
Condemned for defensive weaknesses, Inter suffered a brutal defeat in the most anticipated match of its first international tour, where it aims to maximize the global impact of Messi’s arrival last year.
Similar to the Al-Hilal match, Martino’s team found themselves at a significant disadvantage on the scoreboard early in the game.
With only three minutes played, a loss of the ball by young Argentine defender Tomás Avilés facilitated a combination play by Al-Nassr, ending with Otávio’s powerful strike into the top corner.
Talisca soon opened his account thanks to another error in Inter’s ball distribution, and Laporte made it 3-0 with a humiliating goal, taking advantage of Inter’s goalkeeper Drake Callender being off his line to score from a free-kick from more than 60 meters.
With a broad smile, Ronaldo enjoyed the Al-Nassr goals from his teammates. The Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina, playing for the Saudi team, was substituted after half an hour due to an injury suffered in Suárez’s first missed opportunity.
The game had several moments of tension, especially in a scuffle before halftime resulting from a strong challenge by Nawaf Al-Boushal on Noah Allen, in which Busquets was booked.
Inter failed to react with Messi on the bench, and after the break, they conceded two more goals from Talisca, one from the penalty spot, and Maran’s header from a corner.
Suárez, whom goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah denied with a close-range shot in the 62nd minute, was replaced seven minutes later, as Messi began warming up, causing excitement in the stands.
With seven minutes left, and after Talisca had already put Al-Nassr 6-0 up on a swift counterattack, Messi entered the field amid the euphoria of over 25,000 fans.
The Argentine, who had a substantial offer to join Saudi football last year, could hardly make an impact in the final minutes.
After concluding the Saudi tour, Inter will travel to Hong Kong to face a local team on February 4 and then to Japan to play against Vissel Kobe three days later.
A home friendly against Newell’s Old Boys, Messi’s childhood team, will conclude Inter’s preparations for the new MLS season, starting on February 21.
Sports
Ancelotti leaves door open for Neymar’s return to Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad
Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, current manager of the Brazil national football team, has opened the door to the possibility of Neymar being included in the final squad for the 2026 World Cup, according to an interview published Saturday by L’Equipe.
“At the moment, he is being evaluated by the Brazilian Football Confederation and by me. He still has two months to prove he has the conditions to play in the next World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Neymar, 34, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, was left out of the most recent national team call-up for friendlies against France and Croatia. He is also still working to regain full fitness with Santos FC.
Since returning to his club, Neymar has played only a handful of matches in the Brasileirão and the Copa Sudamericana, including an upcoming match against San Lorenzo on April 28. These games could be key for him to convince Ancelotti ahead of the final squad announcement on May 19.
“Neymar has made and continues to make history in Brazilian football. He is a great talent, and it is normal for people to believe he can help us win the next World Cup,” the Italian coach added.
When asked whether the former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player must be at full fitness to earn a call-up, Ancelotti admitted he does not have a definitive answer but believes Neymar “is capable of returning to 100%.”
International
Trump Says Iran Is Welcome at 2026 World Cup but Warns of Security Concerns
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, said Thursday that the national football team of Iran is “welcome” to participate in the 2026 World Cup, although he suggested it might be safer for the team not to take part in the tournament.
“The Iranian national soccer team is welcome at the World Cup, but I really don’t think it’s appropriate for them to be there, for their own safety,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
His comments came a day after Iran’s sports minister, Ahman Donyamali, said that there are currently no conditions for the country to participate in the tournament following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, during a military offensive launched on February 28 by Israel and the United States.
“After the corrupt government killed our leader, there are no conditions that allow us to take part in the World Cup,” the Iranian official said. He added that the country has faced two wars in the past eight or nine months, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths, making participation in the tournament unlikely.
On Tuesday, the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, met with Trump at the White House.
Following the meeting, Infantino said that Trump reiterated that Iran’s national team would be allowed to compete in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
“We discussed the current situation in Iran and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026. During the conversation, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino wrote on Instagram.
Sports
Shakira ignites El Salvador with near sold-out residency at Mágico González Stadium
The recently renovated Jorge “Mágico” González Stadium is rolling out the red carpet for Colombian superstar Shakira, whose string of concerts has sold out almost entirely, confirming the powerful bond between the artist and Salvadoran fans.
The scale of the experience begins as soon as attendees arrive at the venue. Outside the stadium, organizers have installed several photo spots so concertgoers can capture a souvenir from the major event.
Fans attending the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour will witness a top-tier visual production, where technology and robotic lighting effects will shape an atmosphere that shifts dramatically from one segment of the show to another — moving from the intensity of ’90s rock to the festive explosion of urban pop.
Security and crowd management have been top priorities, with a coordinated operation aimed at ensuring smooth entry and exit, allowing spectators to focus solely on enjoying hits that have defined generations.
Beyond the music, the event marks a milestone for the country’s live-entertainment industry, positioning El Salvador as a destination capable of hosting artist residencies once reserved for cities such as Las Vegas or London.
The excitement is already visible across the capital: hotels are at full capacity and local businesses are riding the wave of enthusiasm sparked by the latest songs from the Colombian star.
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