Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo Again After 2 Years? Al Hilal CEO Gives Final Verdict on Transfer Rumours

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Speculation about another encounter between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has been rife ever since reports emerged linking Ronaldo with a potential move to Al Hilal ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

The revamped Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams for the first time, is set to host football’s biggest stars, including Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar. Ronaldo’s Al Nassr will not be participating, but fans had hoped the Portuguese could switch to Al Hilal, potentially setting up a dream reunion with Messi’s Inter Miami.

The possibility of the two football legends clashing once more has captured global attention, but Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada has firmly dismissed these rumours.

“That (Ronaldo to Al Hilal) sounds like science fiction,” Calzada was quoted by GiveMeSport as saying (as per Fabrizio Romano). “Cristiano Ronaldo is not our player so it’s difficult to comment on that. He’s not a free agent now… it’s not nice to talk about that.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s current contract with Al Nassr runs until 2025, but recent reports suggest he is exploring the possibility of an extension. Transfer pundit Fabrizio Romano recently shared on his YouTube channel about the star’s contract situation.

“My understanding is that he’s still speaking with Al Nassr to extend his contract,” Romano said. “The conversation is ongoing.” Ronaldo himself has hinted that the Saudi Pro League club may likely be his final destination before retirement, saying that Al Nassr will “probably” be his last club.

Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Last Meeting

Messi and Ronaldo last faced off in January 2023 during an exhibition match in Riyadh, where Messi’s PSG edged past a Ronaldo-led Riyadh All-Star XI 5-4. Their last competitive clash dates back to December 2020 in the Champions League group stage when Ronaldo’s Juventus triumphed 3-0 over Messi’s Barcelona.

Al Hilal’s Pursuit of Lionel Messi

Al Nassir is no stranger to targeting the superstars of football. Before Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, Al Hilal had aggressively pursued the Argentine superstar. Club president Anmar Al Haili revealed:

“We actually contacted Messi at the end of his contract in Paris,” Al Hilal President Anmar Al Haili said. “We presented him with an offer of €1.4 billion, but the player refused because his family wanted America. We respect this because family is more important than money.”

Messi’s decision to move to Major League Soccer brought him to Inter Miami, where he has since thrived, being recently awarded the MLS MVP award for the ongoing season.

Al Hilal Focuses on Neymar

Despite not having any realistic chance of signing Ronaldo, Al Hilal’s immediate focus remains on Neymar, whose contract with the Saudi club runs through June 2025. Despite only playing four games due to an ACL injury, Neymar is reportedly in Al Hilal’s plans for the Club World Cup.

Speculation about the Brazilian superstar’s departure had surfaced due to Saudi Pro League foreign player quotas, but Kalidou Koulibaly is now expected to be released instead.

If Neymar remains fit, Al Hilal could feature him in a potential matchup against Messi’s Inter Miami, adding further excitement to the Club World Cup. Neymar’s presence would underline Al Hilal’s ambitions of establishing themselves as a global football powerhouse, even if the dream of a Messi vs Ronaldo clash remains unlikely.