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(FILE PHOTO) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Lionel Messi (L), Cristiano Ronaldo (C) and Andres Iniesta (R). All three players have been shortlisted for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012, the winner of the award will be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 7 January 2013.  ***LEFT IMAGE*** AUGUST 15: Lionel Messi of Argentina runs with the ball  during the international friendly match between Germany and Argentina at Commerzbank-Arena on August 15, 2012 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.  (Photo by Thorsten Wagner/Bongarts/Getty Images) ***CENTRE IMAGE*** JUNE 27:  Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal in action during the UEFA EURO 2012 semi final match between Portugal and Spain at Donbass Arena on June 27, 2012 in Donetsk, Ukraine.  (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** OCTOBER 16:  Andres Iniesta of Spain in action during the FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifier between Spain and France at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on October 16, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (
(FILE PHOTO) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Lionel Messi (L), Cristiano Ronaldo (C) and Andres Iniesta (R). All three players have been shortlisted for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012, the winner of the award will be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 7 January 2013. ***LEFT IMAGE*** AUGUST 15: Lionel Messi of Argentina runs with the ball during the international friendly match between Germany and Argentina at Commerzbank-Arena on August 15, 2012 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Thorsten Wagner/Bongarts/Getty Images) ***CENTRE IMAGE*** JUNE 27: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal in action during the UEFA EURO 2012 semi final match between Portugal and Spain at Donbass Arena on June 27, 2012 in Donetsk, Ukraine. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** OCTOBER 16: Andres Iniesta of Spain in action during the FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifier between Spain and France at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on October 16, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Getty Images/Getty Images

Tens of Thousands of Empty Seats Expected for Messi vs. Ronaldo Showdown

Sean FayNov 18, 2014

Argentina take on Portugal at Old Trafford on Tuesday night as the two best players in the world, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, renew their high profile rivalry. 

You might think that it is the hottest ticket in town but the match is set to played in front of tens of thousands of empty seats in Manchester.

Despite the presence of the Barcelona and Real Madrid superstars, as well Manchester United and City stars like Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero, less than half of Old Trafford's 75,635 capacity had been sold by close of business on Monday. 

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Whatever the hype, it is not an offering that can legitimately described as having caught the imagination of the local football-going public. According to an official spokesman for World XI, the match promoters, “near enough 30,000” tickets have been sold. With the possibility for paying on the gate, he added, the organisers hope another 20,000 will turn up.

At £60 for an adult ticket and £30 for a child, it is not a cheap watch for a friendly international. 

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The match is being broadcast on English television by MUTV, a niche subscription channel that the vast majority of people do not have access to.

However, it is also going up against the Scotland vs. England friendly which is being broadcast free-to-air on ITV 1. 

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