Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo fail to attract fans for friendly

Lionel Messi needs just two more goals to become La Liga's all-time top scorer

The prospect of watching Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to persuade fans to buy tickets for Argentina's friendly against Portugal at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Argentina's Messi, 27, and Portugal's former Manchester United forward Ronaldo, 29, are due to go head-to-head but just 15,000 tickets have been sold.

Tickets for the match cost £40.

"I don't know why we haven't had more sales," match organiser Leo Morales told Bloomberg.

Manchester United's stadium's capacity is 75,731.

Real Madrid forward Ronaldo is the reigning World Player of the Year, an award Messi, who plays for Spanish rivals Barcelona has won a record four times.

On Wednesday, Ronaldo denied claims he has an obscene nickname for Messi.