01 February 2024 , 18:32
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Former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte scored from inside his own half, helping Al-Nassr race into a 3-0 lead inside 12 minutes against Inter Miami.
The game was billed as Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi - but the pair, who have 13 Ballon d'Ors between them, were both ruled out ahead of kick-off due to injuries. Since Messi's move to the MLS, longtime rival Ronaldo has insisted that the Saudi League is superior - and he may have been proven right.
Inter Miami were defeated 4-3 by Al-Hilal and then found themselves 3-0 down against Al-Nassr inside 12 minutes, with Otavio, Talisca, and Laporte getting on the scoresheet. Laporte's goal, however, was the pick of the bunch, taking a shot from inside his own half and catching Inter Miami's goalkeeper off his line
The Premier League-winning Spaniard then cupped his ears before being mobbed by his Al-Nassr teammates for putting the game to bed. Ronaldo, who was watching on from a plush box inside the stadium, couldn't hide his excitement, jumping to his feet to celebrate.
"If Messi was playing Laporte would have never scored this goal, Messi influence on the pitch is too big, those guys just have a different mentality when the goat is playing," a fan claimed on X, formerly known as Twitter. Another added: "Ronaldo and Messi both not playing for Al Nassr and Inter Miami respectively but see goal Laporte scored … Ronaldo was right about Saudi league being superiorrr."
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Ronaldo said last summer after learning of Messi's move to America: "The Saudi league is better than MLS. Now all the players are coming here. In one year, more top players will come to Saudi Arabia.”
Inter Miami visited the Middle East as part of its pre-season, with the 2024 MLS campaign getting underway later this month. However, they'll depart Saudi with two bruising results on their resume, despite having Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez on their roster.
Domestic expectations will remain high, though, with Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham keen for his franchise to become the MLS' top team. Messi and his former Barcelona teammates Busquets and Alba have already brought success to the Sunshine State, with Inter Miami winning the Leagues Cup last season.
"Tonight was a very special night, I think for, not just for our club, [but] for our fans, players, our families, and all of our staff that have been involved in this journey with us," Beckham said after the win.
"But it wasn't easy. Tonight was a very difficult game. Nashville put up an incredible fight. It was very close at the end, and congratulations to them as a club, as an organization and as players, because it was a very difficult game. But it was just our night tonight."