Mbappe wins hearts as PSG star inspects ‘idol’ Ronaldo’s bruise during thrilling friendly against Riyadh XI

Mbappe wins hearts as PSG star inspects 'idol' Ronaldo's bruise during thrilling friendly against Riyadh XI
Mbappe and Ronaldo

During an exciting exhibition match versus Riyadh XI, Mbappe wins hearts as the PSG star examines “idol” Ronaldo’s bump.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo faced off against each other for the first time since December 2020 in a friendly match that PSG won 5-4 over a combined XI of Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal players. Fans were won over by Mbappe’s interaction with a battered CR7, though.

It was a match in which Cristiano Ronaldo faced Lionel Messi, possibly for the final time in their illustrious careers. In a thrilling 5-4 triumph over a combined XI of Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal stars on Thursday night at King Fahd International Stadium in the Saudi Arabian capital, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won the Riyadh Season Cup.

Apart from the fact that Ronaldo and Messi shared the field for the first time since their Champions League match between Juventus and Barcelona in December 2020, Kylian Mbappe’s relationship with ‘idol’ CR7 drew fans’ attention.

After PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas accidentally hit the face of Ronaldo, the captain of the Riyadh XI and Al-new Nassr’s star, with his glove, the Portuguese talisman and the French phenomenon shared a light moment. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s left cheek was bruised by Navas’ glove, but CR7 also received a penalty.

After recovering fast from the incident, Ronaldo scored to tie the match at 1-1 for Riaydh XI, three minutes after Messi had given PSG the lead. The legendary Portuguese player scored his second goal of the match in the 46th minute. After Marquinhos of PSG scored in the 43rd minute, the brace enabled his team tie the score at 2-2.

When PSG’s Mbappe entered the game for the second half, he immediately proceeded to assess the harm Navas had done to his idol, Ronaldo, and the two quickly cracked a joke. Al-new Nassr’s star was replaced in the friendly in the 61st minute after his brace.

PSG’s Ramos, Mbappe, and Ekitike as well as Jang and Talisca of the Riyadh XI scored goals in the second half. The Saudi All-Stars team was defeated by the French champions by a score in the game’s finale.

In spite of the bruise, Ronaldo, who was named man of the match for his brace, continued to smile throughout the rest of the game. However, his interaction with Mbappe, a 24-year-old France star who won many hearts, has since gone viral.

One supporter remarked, “Mbappe and his GOAT,” while another added, “Such a fanboy.”

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