Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Riyadh Season Cup: PSG defeat Saudi All-Star XI as Ronaldo shines in thriller match

Turki Al-Sheikh, head of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), crowned Paris Saint-Germain with the Riyadh Season Cup on Thursday after a thrilling 9-goals match against Saudi All-Star XI.
The match saw Cristiano Ronaldo's first appearance in Saudi Arabia after his move to Riyadh's Al-Nassr club. Ronaldo got the man of the match award as he scored two goals for his team.

The highly anticipated match had everything: Goals from Messi, Mbappe and Ronaldo, VAR investigations, penalties, a red card, nine goals and plenty of excitement.

King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh was packed with over 60,000 fans. Saudi All-Star XI was made up of Al Nassr and Al Hilal stars in the Saudi Pro League and led by coach Marcelo Gallardo.

Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan shook hands with players on the pitch before kick-off while former soccer legends such as Thierry Henry, Allesandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti were all in attendance.

After all the pageantry and hype, such matches end with little on-pitch excitement but this one was different. It all started in the third minute when Messi bagged the first of nine goals.

Just beyond the half-hour mark Ronaldo was caught by a punch in the face from PSG keeper Keylor Navas.

After a VAR review, Navas was given a yellow card and Ronaldo eventually, after a shake of his newly bruised head, slotted home the penalty to score his first goal in Saudi Arabia. His ensuing “siu” celebration got the biggest cheer of the night.

There followed a red card when PSG’s Juan Nernat brought down the Riyadh All-Star’s Salem Al Dawsari near the half-way line. Marquinhos put PSG ahead with a close-range finish before Neymar missed a penalty. Ronaldo grabbed a second goal just before half-time to end a thrilling half.

The second half was just as relentless, with goals from Sergio Ramos for PSG and Hyeon Soo Jang for the Riyadh All-Stars.

The match was decided when Kylian Mbappe scored another penalty in the end-to-end game.

Substitute Hugo Ekitike added a fifth for PSG as the clock ran down and the dominance of the French side shone through.

Ronaldo’s new teammate at Al Nassr, Anderson Talisca, added what was probably the best goal of the game in the dying seconds to make it 5-4.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Saudi Arabia Faces Uncertainty Over Succession After Mohammed bin Salman
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
Head of Gaza Aid Group Resigns Amid Humanitarian Concerns
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
×