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‘Last Dance’: Ronaldo and Messi face each other in Saudi Arabia next year

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Football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are set to face each other one more time in Saudi Arabia in February next year.

The duo recently faced each other on the football pitch earlier in January this year when Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain locked horns with Riyadh All-Stars XI with the former securing a 5-4 victory in the Kingdom.

Many believe that it would mark the final time Messi and Ronaldo shared a pitch as they near the end of their careers on different continents.

Both strikers have dominated international football for more than ten years with Ronaldo winning his first of five Ballon d’Or awards in 2008  Over the next 14 years, he and Messi have shared the prestigious trophy 12 times.

Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi club Al Nassr will face Messi’s Inter Miami in a pre-season friendly match titled “The Last Dance” — a homage to their probable final clash on the football pitch — ahead of the 2024 Major League Soccer season.

Messi, aged 36, made his mark primarily at Barcelona, while Ronaldo, aged 38, reached great heights at fierce rivals Real Madrid after transferring from Manchester United in 2009.

Ideally, their farewell match would have been in the World Cup or Champions League, fitting stages for their stature in the sport. However, the Riyadh Season Cup offers a definitive conclusion to their long-standing rivalry on the field.

Ronaldo’s move to Real Madrid in 2009 put them on opposing sides for one of Europe’s major derbies for nine seasons.

Fans endlessly debated who was superior, but Messi’s record eight Ballon d’Ors and Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory have likely settled that argument.

The upcoming friendly in February will undoubtedly reignite discussions comparing Messi and Ronaldo’s legacies.

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The BCCI has confirmed that Pakistan’s name will be on India’s jersey during the Champions Trophy.

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On Wednesday, the BCCI confirmed that Pakistan’s name would be put on India’s shirt.

According to Indian media, India’s shirt would incorporate the Champions Trophy emblem, which has been approved by the ICC. The Indian team will adhere to the International Cricket Council’s mega-event criteria.

The BCCI has underlined that the Indian squad will respect the ICC’s norms.

It is worth noting that the Champions Trophy begins on February 19.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) urged the ICC to severely enforce the BCCI’s policies.

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The Indian team must have the “Pakistan” logo on their uniforms, the ICC warns the BCCI.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received a warning from the International Cricket Council about its unwillingness to include the logo of Pakistan on the trophy kits of its winning team.

The International Cricket Council has given a strong message to the Indian board on this, according to Indian NDTV.

As part of its host nation policy, the Indian board claimed that it was not interested in having Pakistan’s name appear on their team uniform. However, the ICC rejected this claim.

In reality, the ICC has urged the Indian board to clarify that, since the country was the tournament’s original host, the Indian squad must have “Pakistan” printed on their uniform.

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BCCI disregards tradition; Pakistan absent from Champions Trophy 2025 jerseys

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India’s preparations for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have been marred by tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

In a deviation from convention, the Indian team, captained by Rohit Sharma, would omit Pakistan’s name off their shirts, despite the event being hosted by Pakistan.

This action occurs against a backdrop of intensifying political and security conflicts between the two cricketing powerhouses.

Although the Champions Trophy is scheduled to occur in Pakistan, India has chosen to establish its squad in Dubai, citing persistent security apprehensions in the host country. This move has faced criticism from the PCB, which saw it as a diplomatic affront.

A PCB official denounced the action, alleging that the BCCI is politicizing cricket. The official stated, “India’s refusal to participate in Pakistan, coupled with their decision to withhold their captain from the opening ceremony, constitutes a direct affront to the event’s integrity.”

The omission of Pakistan’s name from the Indian squad’s shirts is perceived as an effort to diminish the host nation, representing a departure from the customary inclusion of the host country’s name on team attire.

The official articulated apprehensions that these measures would compromise the integrity of the competition. The BCCI is introducing politics into cricket, which is harmful to the sport. They declined to travel to Pakistan and are now unwilling to send their skipper to the opening ceremony. Reports indicate that they prefer not to feature the host nation’s name on their shirts. The official expressed a desire for the ICC to intervene and avert additional politicization, urging the sport’s governing body to take action.

The rivalry escalates as the two nations ready themselves for a critical confrontation in the tournament. India’s group-stage itinerary features a highly anticipated encounter with Pakistan on February 23, succeeded by a match against New Zealand on March 2. This event will signify India’s reentry into ICC play since their 2013 Champions Trophy victory under former captain MS Dhoni.

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