Inter Miami has refuted claims of its participation in the Riyadh Season Cup friendly tournament in February 2024, despite earlier announcements suggesting a potential matchup between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Inter Miami’s Communications Department clarified that the announcement of their participation was inaccurate and that no agreement had been reached with the tournament organizers. 

The statement emphasized that team owner Jorge Mas has made no comments regarding the preseason tour, either publicly or privately.

Inter Miami reiterated its commitment to establishing itself as a global brand and confirmed being in discussions to finalize its 2024 preseason schedule. The club expressed its anticipation of showcasing its players during its first international tour, which will be announced in the near future.

“Earlier today, an announcement was issued stating that Inter Miami CF is scheduled to play in the Riyadh Season Cup. This is inaccurate,”

“Since day one, Inter Miami CF has set out to be a global brand. To this end, we have been in conversations to determine our 2024 preseason schedule. We look forward to showcasing our players on Inter Miami CF’s first international tour which will be announced in the coming weeks.“

The earlier announcement had outlined a three-team tournament featuring Inter Miami, Al Nassr, and Al Hilal. However, 

Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, expressed excitement about the tournament’s potential global reach and its alignment with Riyadh Season’s goal of creating world-class events.

“The excitement and global interest that we expect this tournament to generate expands upon one of our main aspirations for Riyadh Season — to create international events that visitors to Riyadh and fans around the world can all enjoy,” he said.

Messi and Ronaldo, widely regarded as two of the greatest players of all time, have maintained their competitive spirit despite their departure from European football. 

Both players remain focused on adding to their legacies, with Ronaldo leading Portugal to Euro 2024 qualification and Messi aiming to defend Argentina’s Copa América title next year.

While the club’s initial plans for a two-match tour to China fell through, the acquisition of Lionel Messi has undoubtedly elevated Inter Miami’s global appeal and opened up new opportunities for international preseason tours.

The Riyadh Season Cup, scheduled for the first week of February at Kingdom Arena, will adopt a round-robin format involving the three participating teams.