Cristiano Ronaldo 'happy' to score against PSG and see old pal Messi again

Al Nassr's new signing converted a penalty in exhibition match against Messi's PSG but can't prevent defeat

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the second goal for Riyadh All-Stars against PSG at the King Fahd University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 19, 2023. AP

Lionel Messi is congratulated by his PSG teammates after opening the scoring.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the first goal for Riyadh All-Stars. AP

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring Riyadh All-Stars' first goal. AFP

Kylian Mbappe scores the fourth goal for PSG. AFP

Riyadh All-Star's South Korean defender Jang Hyun-soo levels at 3-3. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo takes a throw-in. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

Cristiano Ronaldo prepares to take a penalty. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

Cristiano Ronaldo scores from the penalty spot for the Riyadh All-Stars. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

Cristiano Ronaldo in action against Paris Saint-Germain. AFP

PSG forward Lionel Messi next to long-time rival, Riyadh All-Star's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo greets Riyadh All-Stars' Argentinian coach Marcelo Gallardo after being substituted. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his team's third goal. AFP

Riyadh All-Star's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo takes a shot. AFP

PSG's Kylian Mbappe greets Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo grimaces. AP

PSG's Hugo Ekitike (l) celebrates after scoring their fifth. AP

Lionel Messi takes a shot. AFP

PSG defender Juan Bernat is shown the red card by Qatari referee Abdulrahman al-Jassim. AFP

Juan Bernat fouls Riyadh All-Star's Saudi midfielder Salem al-Dawsari, leading to a red card. AFP

PSG's Lionel Messi scores the opening goal in Riyadh. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo is challenged by PSG's Lionel Messi. AP

Cristiano Ronaldo and PSG's Marquinhos with officials before the match. Reuters

Paris Saint-Germain forwards Lionel Messi and Neymar ahead of the match. AFP

PSG''s Kylian Mbappe and Neymar warm up. AFP

A fan holds up a banner of Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo inside the stadium before the match. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo during the Riyadh All-Stars against PSG at the King Fahd University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Messi and Ronaldo vie for the ball during the Riyadh All-Stars against PSG at the King Fahd University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

Lionel Messi lines up before kick off. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

Lionel Messi shoots at goal. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

Saudi All-Stars in action against French champions PSG at the King Fahd University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: General Entertainment Authority

Cristiano Ronaldo declared he was "so happy" to be back on the pitch and on the scoresheet as he marked his debut on Saudi Arabian soil with a goal against Paris Saint-Germain in Thursday's high-profile friendly.

The 37-year-old Portuguese striker converted from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark after taking a whack in the face from PSG goalkeeper Kaylor Navas. He added a second in first-half injury time, smashing home a rebound after his initial header hit the post.

Ronaldo, who late last month signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, captained a composite side comprising players from his new club and cross-city rivals Al Hilal.

The game at Riyadh's King Fahd Stadium also saw him renew his rivalry with Lionel Messi, who was also amongst the goals as his PSG side ran out 5-4 winners, though the pair shared a warm embrace on the pitch.

"So happy to be back on the pitch, and on the score sheet!! And nice to see some old friends!" Ronaldo tweeted.

The match, entitled the Riyadh Season Cup, appeared to be close to a sell-out, with French champions PSG fielding a near full-strength line-up. Their starting XI included recent World Cup winner Messi, Qatar 2022 runner-up and top scorer Kylian Mbappe, and Brazil star Neymar.

Ronaldo signed one of the most lucrative deals in sports history to join Al Nassr, said to be worth more than $200 million per year.

He is in line to make his debut for his new side on Saturday when Al Nassr, who sit second in the Saudi Pro League, host 10th-placed Ettifaq at Mrsool Park.