Bruised Ronaldo Scores Twice to Edge Showdown With Messi

Bruised Ronaldo Scores Twice to Edge Showdown With Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo holds a trophy as a 'Man of the match' after playing a friendly soccer match for a combined XI of Saudi Arabian teams Al Nassr and Al Hilal against PSG at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Jan. 19, 2023. Hussein Malla/AP Photo
The Associated Press
Updated:

Grimacing in pain from his bruised cheekbone, Cristiano Ronaldo steadied himself before scoring from the penalty spot for his first goal in Saudi Arabia against a Paris Saint-Germain team featuring old foe Lionel Messi.

Messi had already scored early in Thursday’s exhibition game when Ronaldo was flattened boxing-match style by PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas after about 30 minutes in Riyadh, the city which gained sporting prominence for hosting a world heavyweight championship boxing bout in 2019.