Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, generation-defining rivals with contrasting styles and a combined 1.1 billion Instagram followers, were scheduled to face each other for the 38th time on Thursday when Inter Miami plays a preseason match against Al Nassr in the Riyadh Season Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Alas, the matchup between the icons will not happen.

The highly anticipated showdown was being billed as “The Last Dance,” as it could very well have been the final time the two met on the field. But fans, promoters, and Apple TV executives will not get their wish. Ronaldo will miss the game with a calf injury, his coach announced Wednesday.

“Cristiano is in the final part of his recovery to join the group,” Luís Castro said. “We expect that he can begin to work with the team in the next few days. He will be an element that will be absent from the game.”

Ronaldo had been dealing with the injury for several weeks. Al Nassr had canceled a two-game China tour last week because Ronaldo, the team’s biggest star, was unable to play. There were reports late last week that he might recover in time for the game against Inter Miami, but Castro put those reports to rest.

Inter Miami defender/midfielder Julian Gressel, who recently was traded to the team from the MLS champion Columbus Crew, had been looking forward to taking the field with Messi and Ronaldo.

“It’s going to be special sharing the field with such accomplished players,” he said Wednesday morning. “It’s been a good few weeks for me getting acclimated to those guys here as my teammates, and now, to step on the field with Cristano Ronaldo, as well ... if he plays ... it would be an exciting feeling and good test for us to prepare for the season.”

Inter Miami was beaten 4-3 by Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal on Monday and remains winless through three preseason games during its seven-game, five country world tour. Miami broke its scoreless drought with goals by Luis Suarez, Messi and David Ruiz. The defense was exposed, giving up two goals in the first 13 minutes and four overall.

“We have a lot of way to go before the season kicks off, and have some good games coming up,” Gressel said. “Monday was a good test where we got exposed in certain ways, and that’s a good thing. That’s what you want to happen in preseason so when the season rolls around, you’re up for the challenges.

“We’ll work on all the details, shifting in the back, covering spaces, tracking runners, all the things necessary that isn’t just necessarily on the back five guys, but all of us in the midfield and even the guys up front.”

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