Table of Contents
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami confirmed it will play in the Riyadh Season Cup in Saudi Arabia next year.
Saudi officials originally announced the news on November 21, but Inter Miami said it was not true.
Inter Miami will play against Al-Hilal on January 29 and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr on February 1. Both teams are in the Saudi Pro League.
An executive from Inter Miami says that the Riyadh Season Cup is a good test for the team, and everyone is excited.
Messi has already played in the Riyadh Season Cup once with PSG.
In total, Messi and Ronaldo have played 35 games against each other for club teams and national teams. Messi’s teams have won 16 times and Ronaldo’s teams have won 10 times. They have had 9 draws.
In all 35 games, Messi has 21 goals and 12 assists. Ronaldo has 20 goals and one assist.
Saudi Arabia is trying to make the Saudi Pro League more famous. Recently, the league has signed a lot of stars in the soccer world, but Messi chose Major League Soccer (MLS) in the US instead.
Inter Miami will also play in two other preseason games. One game is against the El Salvador national team on January 19 and a game against the top players in Hong Kong on February 4.
The MLS season will start at the end of February.
Vocabulary
- Confirm – to prove true or accurate; to report that something is true or fact
- Official – a person who works for the government or a government company and has power or authority; officer; executive
- Originally – at first; in the beginning;
- Announce – share information openly; to tell the public; to make a statement; to report
- Executive – an important person at a company; someone in a high management position; director; head;
- Club team – a team that plays in a sports league; not a national or Olympic team
- National team – A group of the best players from a country who play together in international competitions
- Assist – When you help a teammate score a point in a game
- Famous – Many people know it; Well-known or admired by many people
- League – a group of sports teams or players who play games against each other to see who is best (Most countries have a professional soccer league)
- Sign – to give a job to someone, especially a famous person; to have someone agree to work with you; to get someone to join your team or project
- Star – a famous person; main actor in a show or movie; the best person; very famous
- Instead – rather than; in place of something else; “not that, but something else”; substitute; alternative
- Preseason – The time before the main part of a sports season begins, where teams practice and play games to get ready
- Top – the highest point or rank; the best
- Season – a time period or time of year when a sport is played;
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- How do you think playing in the Riyadh Season Cup will benefit Inter Miami?
- Do you think Messi’s participation in the Riyadh Season Cup will help to make the Saudi Pro League more famous? Why or why not?
- Would you like to see Messi and Ronaldo play together on the same team at some point in their careers? Why or why not?
- What are some other ways that soccer leagues can attract star players besides offering high salaries?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami _____ it will play in the Riyadh Season Cup in Saudi Arabia next _____.
Saudi officials _____ announced the news on November 21, but Inter Miami _____ it was not true.
Inter Miami will _____ against Al-Hilal on January 29 and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr on _____ 1. Both teams are in the Saudi Pro _____.
An executive from Inter Miami says _____ the Riyadh Season Cup is a good test for the _____, and everyone is excited.
Messi has _____ played in the Riyadh Season Cup once with PSG.
In _____, Messi and Ronaldo have played 35 games _____ each other for club teams and national teams. Messi’s teams have _____ 16 times and Ronaldo’s teams have won 10 times. They have _____ 9 draws.
In all 35 games, Messi has _____ goals and 12 assists. Ronaldo has 20 goals and one _____.
Saudi Arabia is _____ to make the Saudi Pro League more famous. _____, the league has signed a lot of stars in the soccer world, but Messi _____ Major League Soccer (MLS) in the US instead.
Inter Miami _____ also play in two other preseason games. One game is _____ the El Salvador national team on January 19 and a game against the _____ players in Hong Kong on February 4.
The MLS _____ will start at the end of February.
