Exactly a year earlier, Ronaldo was starting for United in a 3-1 win at Brentford and just a couple of weeks away from scoring Premier League hat-tricks against Tottenham and Norwich. Having waved goodbye to European football, he will have to settle for a couple of goals against Ettifaq FC on Sunday when he finally makes his debut for Al Nassr. If nothing else, Ronaldo will be adored in Saudi Arabia and the supporters wearing a collection of shirts from Al Nassr, United, Juventus and Portugal — all bearing his name and No.7 — cheered every touch as if each one was flying into the net.
Messi’s first touch did go in — brilliantly set up by Neymar — after three minutes, but Ronaldo didn’t take long to even it up. Jumping to head a free-kick floated into the penalty area, he was clattered by former Real Madrid teammate Keylor Navas and Qatari referee Abdulrahman al Jassim pointed to the spot.
Despite needing treatment for a cut lip, Ronaldo dispatched the ball emphatically from 12 yards as he has done so many times before before running to the corner for his “Siu!” celebration, which was replicated in unison by most of the crowd at the King Fahd International Stadium. Ronaldo one, Messi one. With honours even, it would have been a fitting way to end the half, but for the final five minutes everyone seemed to forget it was meant to be an exhibition game.
