Saudi Arabia does not only live from Aramco. Not just from the oil his gigantic Flag Oil Company produces. According to the princes who rule the country, he lives on a dream of transformation towards an economy based on entertainment, sports, culture and tourism. It seems that the Saudi monarchs were inspired by the Spain that technocrats dreamed of 70 years ago. Only Manolete and Lola Flores are missing. Right now they have the Super Cup and they have Cristiano Ronaldo. They just signed him for Al-Nassr. This Thursday, they presented it in the most spectacular way they could afford: a friendly against Lionel Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain, which they aim to sign for the other big local club, Al-Hilal, once the Argentine fulfilled his two-year contract. Seasons with the Paris Club, in June.
The meeting, held in Riyadh, honored the long list of confrontations between Cristiano and Messi. It ended 5-4. There were grandiose gestures, great goals, gnashing of teeth, punches, penalties and dismissals. Traditionally, the best man won: Messi. The Argentine, playing his first game after winning the World Cup in Qatar, made it 1-0, breaking from the near post and beating the keeper on a Neymar assist. The hug the two gave each other with Mbappé in the new Nike-Jordan kit summed up the visual power of the project conceived by the sheikhs of the royal family of Qatar, the Arab pioneers of this economic idea transcending oil and oil gas through the entertainment industry. For this they pay the highest salaries and prices in the history of football. Neymar collects 40 million euros net per year, Mbappé 50, Messio the same and Cristiano around 100. Inflation continues.
The show began with a Qatari-Saudi fraternization ritual. Local Entertainment Minister Turki bin Abdul Mohsen, who also owns Almeria, appeared on the pitch holding hands with PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi. Between the two, they received the players, who hugged each other as most had known each other for years. Ramos and Keylor Navas were reunited with their old comrade Cristiano and Cristiano was reunited with Messi. After 36 games something like a friendship developed between the two. The moment had its emotionality. If fate doesn’t prevent it, this game, played in front of 65,000 enthusiastic spectators, will be the last of the most fabulous series of duels ever fought by two Ballon d’Ors.
Of the 36 games, the Argentine won 17, Cristiano won ten and drew nine. In Riyadh, a discussion seemed impossible. PSG swept, growing from midfield thanks to the support and triangulations of Renato Sanches, Fabián and Soler. If these players manage to shorten the team and give continuity to their strikers’ participation, PSG will solve its most pressing problem and become a serious contender for winning the Champions League.
a trickle of opportunities
Messi, Neymar and Mbappé provided a barrage of resounding occasions. The game was not a one-way street as Cristiano and Pity Martínez managed to occupy opposing defenders. An accidental swipe at Cristiano by Keylor as both were fighting for a ball down the middle left the Portuguese with a bruised cheekbone and resulted in a penalty. Cristiano made it 1-1 and then another accident happened. Bernat was sent off for knocking down Aldawsari while facing Keylor. For an hour, the Saudi league team had one player more. The people in the stands, waving Brazilian and Argentinian flags, fell down. Messi and Neymar balanced the scales. Marquinhos made it 2-1, Cristiano made it 2-2, Ramos made it 3-2 after a dribble combination by Mbappé, Hang-Hyung-soo made it 3-3, Mbappé made it 4-3 after a Messi penalty, Ekitike made it 5- 3 and Talisca 5-4.
The ending exuded sadness. The lights went out, people left, and Cristiano said goodbye to his old rivals and comrades like the hero who goes into exile on an island and goes to the pier to bid farewell to his family, who are returning to the forbidden metropolis. He stays in Arabia. PSG return to Europe. This Monday the season in Lens will continue in the round of 16 of the French Cup.
Follow EL PAÍS Deportes on Facebook and Twitteror sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter.