Inter Miami Falls to Al Hilal 4-3

Inter Miami faced Al Hilal in their third preseason game, losing 4-3 in the Riyadh Season Cup. The team showed heart and grit, especially in the second half.

Lionel Messi was central to Inter Miami’s effort, scoring a penalty in the 54th minute making it 3-2. Luis Suárez also scored, indicating a potentially strong partnership with Messi. David Ruiz added another goal, tying the game at 3-3 in the 55th minute after a beautiful pass from Messi. Messi finished the game strong with one goal and one assist on the night.

However, Inter Miami’s efforts were undone by a late goal from Malcom, a former Barcelona teammate of Messi and Suárez, in the 88th minute. This goal came just as Messi left the field in the 87th minute, and sealed the win for Al Hilal.

The preseason has been challenging for Inter Miami, with this game marking their third without a win. They have shown potential in attack but also weaknesses, particularly in defense.

Despite the defeat, Inter Miami’s ability to come back against a team like Al Hilal, who are in their mid-season, was notable. At the end of the day, effort has to translate into wins something that has eluded Inter Miami this preseason

As Inter Miami looks forward, their focus is on learning from these games and improving. Their next match is against Al Nassr FC this Thursday, a notable fixture as it brings together Ronaldo and Messi. This encounter will be their first since January 19th, 2023, when the Riyadh All-Stars played against PSG, ending in a 5-4 result. In that game, Ronaldo scored twice compared to Messi’s single goal. With Ronaldo approaching his 39th birthday on February 5th and Messi at 36, this friendly match holds significance as it could be one of the final times these two legendary players, known for their long-standing rivalry, face each other on the field.

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