SUMMARY
- Cristiano Ronaldo, deemed fit to play, played against Al-Nassr's arch-rivals Al Hilal.
- Ronaldo received a yellow card during the match.
The Saudi Pro League giants Al Nassr FC and Al Hilal FC faced off each other in the Riyadh pre-season Cup on February 8th. Soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo was deemed fit to play the game as he recovered in time for the match against their arch-rivals. The result eventually did not go in Al-Nassr and Ronaldo’s favor.
Al-Hilal has a long history and has consistently been among the top teams in Asian soccer. Al Nassr, on the other hand, hopes to establish themselves as one of Asian soccer’s titans with Al-Hilal by building a strong team with players who are known for their prolific nature.
🗣️ Cristiano Ronaldo to Al Hilal Fans: “I am here… not Messi.”
Tears man he’s so Insecure 😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/13DrhhObCZ
— ACE (@FCB_ACEE) February 8, 2024
The match between the two dominant Saudi Pro League teams occurred on February 8. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (17′) and Salem Al-Dawsari (30′) goals in the first half of the match gave Al-Hilal the upper hand over the extremely vulnerable Al Nassr team, who looked completely out of control and were outclassed in every area in their 2-0 loss.
Not only that, many tempers flared between Cristiano Ronaldo and the Al Hilal fans as they were spotted chanting his long-time rival Lionel Messi’s name towards his face. He gave them back by reacting in an indecent way which angered the Al Hilal fans more.
Cristiano Ronaldo reacts indecently to the Al Hilal club flag thrown at him
In the Riyadh Season Cup final, a preseason tournament, Al Nassr fell to Al Hilal 0–2, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo completely unhappy. Al Hilal won the trophy with two strikes from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (17′) and Salem Aldawasari (30′) securing the match for them.
The Al Hilal supporters were pleased with their team’s performance and specifically made fun of Ronaldo during the game by chanting “Lionel Messi.” After Ronaldo lost a chance to score in what ended up being a one-sided first half, the chants began.
مهاجم النصر يبدو أنه عانى بعد ترديد إسم بطل العالم في كل مرة طوال اللقاء pic.twitter.com/3723A5qIz4
— Messi Xtra (@M30Xtra) February 8, 2024
The Portuguese superstar gave the audience a thumbs up in return and then made his signature “calm down” motion. In addition, Ronaldo’s contentious dugout incident infuriated supporters even more. As he got closer to the tunnel, a supporter threw an Al Hilal scarf at Ronaldo, who grabbed it, pointed at his crotch, and then threw it away.
Cristiano Ronaldo fumes at the referee and receives a yellow card during the Al Nassr vs Al Hilal match
Cristiano’s Al Nassr lost to their arch-rivals Al Hilal FC by 2-0. Ronaldo, who completed the entire ninety minutes, had a miserable evening. He was not at all at his best. Out of the four shots he took, just one compelled Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to react.
The Hazard interviews got to his head 😂😭
— All Things Brasil™ 🇧🇷 (@SelecaoTalk) February 8, 2024
In addition, Ronaldo was flagged for offside three times. In the 53rd minute, he was given a yellow card for angrily pushing the ball away after Al-Hilal had been awarded a free kick and also lost his temper at the female referee. It remains to be seen how Ronaldo and Al Nassr bounce back in the remainder of the 2023-24 season in the Saudi Pro League.
