Saudi championship lead there
Ronaldo rages after provocative “Messi” calls
03/10/2023 2:42 p.m
From a sporting point of view, the change from Cristiano Ronaldo is questionable anyway, now the former world footballer with his club Al-Nassr is also losing the top spot in the Saudi Arabian league, which at least brings prestige. Viewers also provoke him with the name of his rival Lionel Messi.
Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has reacted furiously to his new Saudi team Al-Nassr’s loss of the league lead. After the 1-0 defeat against Al-Ittihad FC, the 38-year-old left the pitch shaking his head and finally kicked several water bottles on the edge of the pitch in frustration, local media reported and a footage of the scene shared online showed.
Fans of the opposing team shouted “Messi” at the top of their lungs even before the kick-off and when Ronaldo was named, in order to provoke the player, according to Arab media. The shouts can also be heard on the video. Teammates had therefore tried to calm Ronaldo before his angry departure.
Ronaldo and Messi – eternal rivals
“We are disappointed with the result, but we remain focused on our season and the upcoming games,” Ronaldo wrote on social media after the game. Al-Ittihad took the top spot in the Saudi Pro League after the game, relegating Al-Nassr to second.
A few months ago, Ronaldo signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Saudi club. According to media reports, including advertising revenue, he should get the equivalent of around 200 million euros per season.
The two multiple world footballers Lionel Messi and Ronaldo are considered rivals. At the end of January, Messi won a friendly against Ronaldo’s team with Paris Saint-Germain. The Portuguese had led a selection of players from his own club and Saudi club Al-Hilal. Despite two goals from Ronaldo, PSG won 5-4 with Argentinian world champion Messi.