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Ighalo missed out on playing with and against the two GOATs as PSG played out a thrilling encounter against Saudi Arabia all-star XI.
Super Eagles star Odion Ighalo was missing in action as Messi and Ronaldo both traded goals in PSG’s 5-3 win over Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr all-stars.
Ighalo was an unused sub as Ronaldo and Messi gave the football world a great show for one last time. The build-up to the match was about Ronaldo and Messi meeting for one last time, and they delivered yet again.
Ronaldo and Messi live up to the billing
This was their first meeting since the Champions League clash between Juventus and Barcelona in 2020. It looked like both players would not meet again after Ronaldo joined Al-Hilal in what has been dubbed the most lucrative deal in football history.
The match should have taken place in 2021 but was postponed to this year due to Covid-19 reasons. Fortunately, the change in schedule meant the world got to see Ronaldo and Messi one last time.
The clash got off to a first start as Messi put PSG ahead with an intelligent finish following a ball from Neymar. However, Ronaldo restored parity for the all-stars in the 33rd minute from the penalty spot.
Things got a little bit feisty as Juan Bernat was sent off for PSG in the 39th minute. But it did not affect the French champions as they retook the lead through Marquinhos.
Christophe Galtier had the chance to extend their lead moments later after they were a penalty, but Neymar missed the resulting spot kick. The miss proved costly as Ronaldo scored his second of the game to draw the all-stars level again.
The Portugal star fired home from close range after his initial header had hit the post. Ronaldo’s goal was the last action in the first half.
More of the same in the second half
The second half resumed with the same intensity as PSG restored their lead through Sergio Ramos.
But in a familiar tale, the all-stars restored parity through Jang Hyun-Soo. Nonetheless, PSG’s quality proved to be decisive again as Kylian Mbappe restored their lead from the penalty spot before Hugo Ekitike made it 5-3.
There was to be more drama, though, as Anderson Talisca pulled one back for the all-stars to set up a nervy finish. However, PSG held on for a narrow win.
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