When a match is billed as a clash of titans, fans expect to see the titans, but the February 1, 2024 friendly between Al Nassr and Inter Miami delivered a 6-0 scoreline while the real story was who wasn’t on the pitch. Here’s a detailed look at the only competitive meeting between these two sides, including lineups, key moments, and what it means for their head-to-head record.

4 related posts

Date: February 1, 2024 ·
Final Score: Al Nassr 6-0 Inter Miami ·
Venue: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh ·
Attendance: 25,000 ·
Cristiano Ronaldo: Did not play ·
Lionel Messi: Substitute (83rd minute)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Full goal-scoring record beyond Otávio, Laporte, Al-Amri, and Talisca’s hat trick (ESPN match report)
  • Official reason for Ronaldo’s absence beyond “muscle injury” (beIN SPORTS)
  • Whether any future rematch between the clubs is scheduled (Sky Sports (sports news))
3Timeline signal
  • One and only match between the clubs as of February 2024 (Sky Sports)
  • Riyadh Season Cup 2024 was the context (ESPN)
  • Unofficial mentions of a potential 2025/2026 fixture exist but no verified source (Sky Sports)
4What’s next
  • No official announcements for a rematch (Sky Sports)
  • Inter Miami continues its preseason schedule; Al Nassr focuses on domestic and continental competitions (MLSsoccer)
Why this matters

The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s late cameo turned what could have been a marquee showdown into a one-sided affair. For the global fan base, the match raised more questions than answers about the true strength of each side when their biggest stars are available.

The table below summarizes the key match facts.

Key match facts at a glance.
Label Value
Date February 1, 2024
Final Score Al Nassr 6-0 Inter Miami
Venue Kingdom Arena, Riyadh
Attendance 25,000
Cristiano Ronaldo Did not play
Lionel Messi Substitute (83rd minute)

What was the score of the Al Nassr vs Inter Miami match?

The final score was Al Nassr 6, Inter Miami 0. As reported by ESPN (sports news authority), the match was a “6-0 drubbing” that saw Al Nassr race to a 3-0 lead inside the first 12 minutes. Otávio opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, Aymeric Laporte doubled the lead in the 12th, and Abdulelah Al-Amri made it 3-0 in the 37th minute. Talisca completed a hat trick later in the match, as confirmed by Hindustan Times (Indian news outlet).

“Al Nassr handed Inter Miami a 6-0 drubbing.”

— ESPN match report

The implication: Inter Miami, still early in preseason, had no answer for Al Nassr’s intensity. The scoreline underscores a gulf in match sharpness rather than pure talent disparity.

Where and when did the Al Nassr vs Inter Miami match take place?

The match was played on February 1, 2024, at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Riyadh Season Cup 2024 friendly tournament. Attendance was listed at 25,000 spectators, according to Sky Sports (sports news broadcaster) and ESPN. Kingdom Arena, a modern multi-purpose stadium, hosted the match as the centerpiece of Inter Miami’s preseason tour of Saudi Arabia (MLSsoccer).

“Inter Miami’s Saudi Arabia preseason tour ended with the 6-0 loss to Al Nassr.”

— MLSsoccer.com

Why this matters: Playing in front of a near-capacity crowd in Riyadh, the match was never a neutral friendly — it carried symbolic weight as a showcase for Saudi football against a growing MLS brand.

Who were the key players in the match?

Two global superstars dominated pre-match headlines but had contrasting involvement. Cristiano Ronaldo did not play because of a muscle injury, confirmed by beIN SPORTS (sports broadcaster). Lionel Messi, on the other hand, featured as an 83rd-minute substitute for Inter Miami, as noted by ESPN.

Al Nassr’s starting XI, published by MLSsoccer, included David Ospina, Nawaf Boushal, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Aymeric Laporte, Alex Telles, Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem, Otavio, Marcelo Brozović, Talisca, Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa, and Mohammed Maran. Inter Miami started Drake Callender, Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Sergii Kryvtsov, Tomás Avilés, Julian Gressel, David Ruíz, Sergio Busquets, Gregore, Leonardo Campana, and Luis Suárez.

The trade-off: With Ronaldo sidelined, Al Nassr’s firepower came from Talisca, who netted a hat trick, showing depth beyond the Portuguese star. For Inter Miami, the experiment of fielding Suárez and Campana together didn’t generate chances.

What is the head-to-head record between Al Nassr and Inter Miami?

These two clubs have met exactly once, and Al Nassr holds a perfect record: 1 win, 0 draws, 0 losses, with a goal difference of +6 (Sky Sports). Inter Miami has yet to score against Al Nassr.

A comparison table helps frame the head-to-head context:

One match played, one pattern: Al Nassr dominated both possession and finishing.

Metric Al Nassr Inter Miami
Matches played 1 1
Wins 1 0
Goals scored 6 0
Goals conceded 0 6

What this means: The head-to-head is too small to draw firm conclusions about which team is stronger overall. The match was a friendly, played under very different preseason readiness levels.

Are there any future matches scheduled between Al Nassr and Inter Miami?

As of now, no official future match between Al Nassr and Inter Miami has been announced by either club or any tournament organizer. Online search queries mention potential matchups in 2025 or 2026, but these are unverified (Sky Sports). For context on how clubs qualify for major tournaments, see our article on FIFA Club World Cup 2025 absentees.

The pattern: Given the Riyadh Season Cup’s history of one-off friendlies, a rematch is possible but not confirmed. Fans hoping for a Ronaldo vs Messi showdown at club level may have to wait.

The catch

Without a confirmed fixture, the narrative of this head-to-head remains frozen in February 2024. For fans who followed the pre-match Ronaldo-Messi hype, the reality that neither star played a meaningful role together is the lasting story.

Timeline of the Al Nassr vs Inter Miami rivalry

  • February 1, 2024: Al Nassr 6-0 Inter Miami (Riyadh Season Cup) — only meeting to date.
  • 2025 (unconfirmed): Online speculation of a possible rematch, but no official source.
  • 2026 (unconfirmed): Similar speculation appears in search data, unsupported by any club or league announcement.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Al Nassr won 6-0 on February 1, 2024 (ESPN)
  • Venue: Kingdom Arena, attendance 25,000 (ESPN)
  • Cristiano Ronaldo did not play (muscle injury) (beIN SPORTS)
  • Lionel Messi substituted on in the 83rd minute (ESPN)
  • Talisca scored a hat trick; Otávio, Laporte, and Al-Amri also scored (Hindustan Times)
  • Match was part of Riyadh Season Cup 2024 (ESPN)

What’s unclear

  • Full timeline of all six goals beyond those reported (ESPN)
  • Exact nature and severity of Ronaldo’s muscle injury (beIN SPORTS)
  • Whether a future match is scheduled (Sky Sports)
  • Official lineups for both teams from club sources (only media reports available) (MLSsoccer)

These facts provide a clear picture of the match, while the unclear items highlight areas for further verification.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com, instagram.com, 365scores.com, gsweats.ca, youtube.com, facebook.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is Al Nassr better than Inter Miami based on one match?

One friendly match is not a reliable indicator of overall team strength. Al Nassr was in mid-season form while Inter Miami was in early preseason. The 6-0 scoreline says more about match readiness than overall quality.

How many times have Al Nassr and Inter Miami played?

They have played exactly once, on February 1, 2024, in the Riyadh Season Cup.

What was the biggest win between Al Nassr and Inter Miami?

The only win so far is Al Nassr’s 6-0 victory, which also stands as the biggest (and only) margin.

Has Lionel Messi ever scored against Al Nassr?

No. Messi played only the final 7 minutes of the match and did not score.

Has Cristiano Ronaldo ever scored against Inter Miami?

No. Ronaldo did not play in the only meeting between the clubs due to injury.

Will there be a rematch between Al Nassr and Inter Miami?

As of now, no official rematch has been announced. Speculation about 2025 or 2026 fixtures remains unconfirmed.

What is the Riyadh Season Cup?

The Riyadh Season Cup is a series of exhibition matches held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the larger Riyadh Season entertainment festival. It often features top international clubs.

Bottom line: The February 1, 2024 match between Al Nassr and Inter Miami was a one-sided friendly defined more by who didn’t play than who did. For Al Nassr fans, Talisca’s hat trick proved the team has firepower beyond Ronaldo. For Inter Miami supporters, the result is a preseason footnote — but one that highlights how far the squad still needs to go before competing with top international sides.

For Inter Miami, the takeaway is clear: preseason tours against in-form opponents expose fitness gaps that must be closed before the MLS season starts. For Al Nassr, the win offers a confidence boost, but the absence of a full-strength opponent means the true test of their capabilities remains ahead — perhaps in a future Riyadh Season Cup edition, if the two sides meet again. For another look at match statistics across different sports, see our Brooklyn Nets vs Pacers player stats.