Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Cristiano Ronaldo scored two first-half goals, but the Lionel Messi-led Paris Saint-Germain attack overwhelmed his Riyadh XI squad with a second-half explosion for a friendly win Thursday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo scored in the 34th minute and in first-half stoppage time of the 5-4 loss. Messi found the net for the first goal in the third minute against the collection of all-star players from Saudi teams Al Nassr and Al Hila.
Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Ekitike also scored for PSG. Jan Hyun-soo and Talisca scored in the second-half for Riyadh XI.
The matchup was the first meeting between Messi and Ronaldo since 2020, when Messi and Barcelona beat Ronaldo and Juventus 3-0. Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr on Dec. 30, made his Saudi debut in the friendly.
Neymar Jr. assisted PSG's two first-half goals. The Brazilian striker received a pass on the left flank, deep in opposing territory. He then lifted a short cross into the box at King Fahd Stadium.
Messi ran onto the feed and used his left foot for a first-touch shot just inside the far post. The slow roller slipped behind goalie Mohammed Al-Owais.
PSG goalie Keylor Navas prompted Ronaldo's penalty kick about 30 minutes later. The Costa Rican goalie punched Ronaldo in the face while jumping for a ball in front of the net. Ronaldo then stepped up to the penalty spot and blasted a shot into the right side of the net.
Neymar assisted defender Marquinhos for another score in the 43rd minute, which gave PSG a 2-1 lead. He curled a pass through the box, which flew toward the far post before Marquinhos stepped into the area and redirected a shot into the right side of the net.
Neymar went on to miss a penalty kick in first half stoppage time. Ronaldo found the net for his second score just minutes later, tying the game at halftime.
The star striker finished that play with a header just inside the right post, which beat Navas for another equalizer.
Ramos scored a go-ahead goal for PSG in the 53rd minute. Mbappe raced past a defender to the end line on the left of the goal to setup that score. He then slipped a short pass in front of the net. Ramos ran into the area and fired a point-blank shot past Al-Owais.
Hyun-soo equalized again in the 56th minute. Mbappe gave PSG another lead a few minutes later when he beat Al-Owais with a penalty kick.
Midfielder Ismael Gharbi assisted Ekitike to give PSG a 5-3 edge in the 78th minute. Talisca scored Riyah XI's final goal in stoppage time.
Ronaldo has yet to appear in a regular game for his new Riyadh-based club. Al Nassr will battle Ettifaq in a Saudi Pro League match at 12:30 p.m. EST Sunday at Mrsool Park in Riyadh.
PSG will battle Pays de Cassell in a French Cup match at 2:45 p.m. EST Monday in Lens, France.
