Staff Reporter.
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 in Riyadh on Thursday.
The game had been billed as a clash between Messi and old rival Cristiano Ronaldo but the latter was ruled out for Al-Nassr because of injury.
Former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte scored the pick of the goals with a free-kick from his own half.
Brazilian Talisca hit a hat-trick for the Saudi Pro League side, who were 3-0 up inside 12 minutes.
Otavio opened the scoring before Talisca got his first and then Laporte got on the scoresheet when he caught Miami goalkeeper Drake Calender well off his line.
Talisca got his second from the penalty spot to make it 4-0, Mohammed Maran scored Al-Nassr’s fifth with a header before Talisca completed the scoring.
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.The tour began with a 0-0 draw against El Salvador, which was followed by a 1-0 loss to MLS side FC Dallas, leaving Miami winless through four games of its preseason tour.
Al-Nassr last week cancelled their two-game China tour due to the absence of the 38-year-old Ronaldo.