Inter Miami's Lionel Messi in action against Al-Nassr's Mohammed Qasem during the Riyadh Season Cup soccer match between Inter Miami and Al-Nassr at Kingdom Arena Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb 1, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

Lionel Messi came on as an 83rd-minute substitute but could do nothing to stop Inter Miami suffering a 6-0 drubbing by an Al-Nassr team without Cristiano Ronaldo in Riyadh on Thursday.

The match, billed as possibly the last chance for the multiple Ballon D'Or winners to face each other on the pitch, was part of a friendly tournament also involving Brazilian Neymar's Al-Hilal, the Saudi Pro League leaders.

Argentina forward Messi, nursing a hamstring problem, started on the bench and Portugal's Ronaldo missed out completely due to a muscle injury, disappointing fans hoping to see the world's two most famous footballers in opposition.

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Inter Miami's Uruguayan forward #09 Luis Suarez kicks the ball during the friendly football match between Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr FC and the US Inter Miami CF at the Kingdom Arena Stadium in Riyadh on Feb 1, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

Inter, who started the game with former Barcelona players Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in their lineup, trailed 3-0 inside 12 minutes and never threatened to make a comeback.

Messi, 36, played against Al-Hilal on Monday, converting a penalty in the 54th minute before he was substituted two minutes from time as Inter lost 4-3.

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Al-Nassr last week cancelled their two-game China tour due to the absence of the 38-year-old Ronaldo.