Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are preparing for a surprise reunion as Paris Saint-Germain take on the Saudi league XI in a friendly later this month

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi appear set for a surprise reunion in January following the Portuguese star’s move to Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo signed a two-year contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, ending a stellar career in Europe.

The money-spinning switch is set to earn Ronaldo around £175million a year in a move Al-Nassr described as “history in the making”.

While some have been left puzzled by Ronaldo’s choice to leave Europe, the move could present him with one last showdown with Messi later this month.

Paris Saint-Germain are due to travel to Saudi Arabia in January for a mid-season friendly against a combined XI of Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal – billed as Riyadh’s Cup of the Season.

It was originally scheduled to take place in January 2022 but was postponed for Covid reasons.

Now, it’s set to take place in mid-January 2023 and it could set up another meeting between Messi and Ronaldo which would likely be the latest installment in their incredible rivalry.

Messi is currently in Argentina celebrating last month’s World Cup success but is preparing to return to duty in the French capital with PSG boss Christophe Galtier confirming that Messi will return to the club on January 3.

The Argentine isn’t expected to return to action until mid-January and Galtier could use the friendly as a tune-up before releasing the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner ahead of the Champions League clash later this month next with Bayern Munich.

Ronaldo’s playing time has been significantly reduced this season after falling out of favor at Manchester United before leaving Old Trafford in November.

He also lost his place in the Portuguese squad at the World Cup and was used sparingly in the Round of 16.

The game is sure to grab the attention of fans around the world and inevitably spark the age-old comparisons of who the superior player is.