Lionel Messi: Turki Sheikh Trolls Inter Miami Star After Coming On in 6:0 Loss to Al Nassr

Lionel Messi: Turki Sheikh Trolls Inter Miami Star After Coming On in 6:0 Loss to Al Nassr

Elijah Odetokun
updated at February 2, 2024 at 8:25 AM
In this article:
Lionel Messi logo
L.Messi
Inter Miami CF logoFArgentina logo
Cristiano Ronaldo logo
C. Ronaldo
Al Nassr FC logoFPortugal logo
Inter Miami CF logo
Club Internacional de Futbol Miami
United States
27
Al Nassr FC logo
Al Nassr
Saudi Arabia
33
Saudi Arabia logo
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
23
  • Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr whooped Lionel Messi's Inter Miami 6-0
  • Ronaldo sat out the game through injury but Messi played a few minutes
  • The Argentina captain was a doubt after reportedly feeling his hamstring

Gerardo Martino substituted in Lionel Messi for the final minutes of Inter Miami’s 6-0 to Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in the Riyadh Season Cup.

The match famously dubbed the 'last dance' turned otherwise when Ronaldo was ruled out, having just joined team training after recovering from a muscle injury.

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, Al-Nassr, Riyadh Season Cup, Saudi Arabia.
Lionel Messi played the final minutes of Inter Miami's 6-0 loss to Al-Nassr in the Riyadh Season Cup. Photo by Francois Noel.
Source: Getty Images

Per AlbicelesteTalk, Messi nearly missed the action, too, after reports emerged a few minutes before the game that he pulled his hamstring after coming off against Al-Hilal on request.

However, he was able to play the final minutes after he was subbed in by Martino in the 83rd minute, replacing Ecuadorian striker Leonardo Campana.

PAY ATTENTION: stay informed and follow us on Google News!

Turki Sheikh troll Messi

The World Cup winner came on with the scores at 6-0, and as seen in a video circulating on social media, Turki Sheikh, who was in attendance, lifted six fingers to troll him.

He never looked fazed by the troll but could not do anything to rescue his side; there was no way he could have scored six in 13 minutes, but at least he didn't witness his team concede another goal with him on the pitch.

Miami's next three pre-season games are against Hong Kong XI, Vissel Kobe and Messi's boyhood club, Newell's Old Boys, before an MLS season opener against Real Salt Lake.

The Herons have to fix their biggest issue from pre-season: their poor defence, which saw them concede 10 goals in two games against Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr in the Riyadh Season Cup.

They won't struggle for goals with the addition of former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez to the attack.

Fans boo Lionel Messi

Sports Brief reported on Al-Nassr fans booing Messi while he was on the bench for his team's final game of the Riyadh Season Cup in Saudi Arabia.

The Argentine started off the bench as a precaution to a hamstring issue but received jeers when the camera was on him. Ronaldo, who missed the game, received loud cheers.

Authors
Elijah Odetokun photo
Elijah Odetokun
Elijah Odetokun is Reuters-trained journalist with three years of experience having previously worked at Daily Times Nigeria, OmaSports and El Futbolero.