It was a highly-anticipated debut for Cristiano Ronaldo as he joined his new club, Al-Nassr, on the field for a friendly match against Paris Saint-Germain. Ronaldo, who had missed the last two matches of his new club due to a ban from his time at Manchester United, was eager to make an impression on his new fans. And he did not disappoint, scoring two goals in the match that ultimately resulted in a 5-3 victory for PSG.

The match was held at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, where the temperature dipped to a low of 8C. As the teams stepped out onto the field, they were greeted by a display of fireworks and an energetic crowd cheering for both teams.

The early moments of the match saw an unusual reaction from the crowd as they jeered France’s World Cup hero, Kylian Mbappe, every time he touched the ball. However, it did not take long for Mbappe to silence the crowd with a goal, as Neymar passed to him and he finished with a delicate flick of his left boot.

Ronaldo had an early chance to score as well, but his left-footed shot was easily saved by Kaylor Navas in PSG’s goal. The crowd cheered for every touch of the ball by Ronaldo, who was looking lively in the early stages of the match.

Minutes later, Navas saved well to his right from Luis Gustavo’s low shot, but it was PSG who looked like they were going to score with almost every attack. Neymar should have scored when he shot tamely at Al-Owais from just outside the six-yard box on the 12th minute.

The teams continued to exchange attacks, with the home team surprisingly cohesive in possession, despite having had limited training time together under the guidance of Argentine coach Marcello Gallardo. PSG’s left flank proved to be a constant threat, with Mbappe breaking free on the 25th minute and scoring past Al-Owais, but the goal was disallowed due to offside.

Two minutes later, Messi’s long-range shot was deflected for a corner. On the half-hour mark, Navas, attempting to fist a free-kick away, succeeded only in catching Ronaldo in the face, resulting in a penalty for the Riyadh Season XI. Ronaldo confidently took the penalty kick, sending the ball flying high into the net, and celebrated with his signature style. The crowd erupted in unison, shouting “Siu!” in support. Just over half an hour in, the score was Riyadh Season XI 1, PSG 1. Ronaldo 1, Messi 1.

The home team appeared to gain momentum after Juan Bernat was sent off for a reckless challenge on Salem Al-Dawsari, the player who scored Saudi Arabia’s winning goal against Argentina in the World Cup, only five minutes later. But that advantage lasted barely seconds as PSG captain Marquinhos tapped home from close range on the 43rd minute.

PSG had the opportunity to extend their lead to three goals when Messi set up Neymar with another chance, but the shot was expertly saved by Al-Owais. As the first half came to a close, VAR confirmed that Ali Al-Bulayhi’s tackle on Neymar was a penalty, but Neymar’s weak shot was easily saved by the Saudi goalkeeper.

As the match reached its final moments, the crowd eagerly waited for the moment they had all been waiting for, Ronaldo’s debut goal. The crowd erupted as Ronaldo’s flicked header hit the left post, but he was quick to react and smashed the rebound into the net. The score was now 2-2, Ronaldo 2, Messi 1.

The second half picked up where the first left off, with each team taking a swing at the other. Mbappe’s low cross was converted by Sergio Ramos to give the visitors the lead once again on the 53rd minute. Three minutes later, Jang Hyun-soo headed home the equalizer from a corner.

The home crowd’s joy did not last long, as Mbappe re-enacted his World Cup final heroics by converting his side’s second penalty of the night for a 4-3 lead on the 60th minute. Almost immediately, perhaps with an eye on maintaining his lead, Mbappe scored again, securing the victory for PSG.

Despite the loss, the home crowd was thrilled with Ronaldo’s debut performance, and the match was a thrilling display of talent from both teams. The battle of the two legends, Ronaldo and Messi, also added to the excitement of the match, with both players scoring a goal each. It was a night to remember for football fans in Saudi Arabia and around the world, as they got to witness some of the greatest players in the world in action.