Get Newsletter
Notification products, updates
February 27, 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t paid a reported £180 million a year to write articles that contain terms like “crotch” or “genitals”; instead, he is expected to represent a contemporary, global Saudi Arabia.
However, it’s incredible how simple it seems to irritate this five-time Ballon d’Or winner. To participate, simply chant “Messi, Messi.” It appears to get under his skin, which is astonishing for a player who has represented the biggest teams in the games and won nearly everything.
Ronaldo is the league’s top scorer and tied for first in assists, and his work ethic, will-win, and desire for the best standards have all been evident in Saudi Arabia thus far. His competitive nature is intense, yet it appears so broad that any indication that his primary rival is out there is taken with a grain of salt.
He grabbed his ass as he exited the field in April of last year following his Al-Nassr team’s defeat to fierce rivals Al-Hilal in Riyadh. Though his club refuted this, claiming that he was reacting to a groin injury he had sustained during the game, it appeared to be a response to jubilant opposition fans yelling the name of his personal rival from Argentina.
“This is confirmed information. As for the fans’ explanations, they are free to think whatever they want,” said a club statement.
Even though Ronaldo got away with it at the time, some people believed it was out of order. The same opposition was involved in another incident earlier in February during the Riyadh Season Cup, which was a glorified friendly. The 39-year-old was irritated by the same chants this time; there was no doubt about that. When he left the field at halftime, someone threw what appeared to be a Hilal scarf at his feet.
Ronaldo stuffed it in his shorts before throwing it out.
Sunday came next. This time, the third major club from the capital, Al-Shabab, was the opponent in another Riyadh Derby. With players like Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozovic, and Ronaldo on one side and Ivan Rakitic, Yannick Carrasco, and others on the other, the match on Sunday was as entertaining as it was hard-fought. There were wild celebrations from the yellow team when Anderson Talisca made it 3-2 with three minutes remaining. Al-Nassr had twice had their lead wiped out in a game they needed to win to maintain pressure on leaders Hilal.
Overall, it was an excellent advertisement for the Saudi Pro League until Ronaldo appeared to put one hand to his ear and the other to what has been called “his pelvic area” while turning to face the home crowd. With ten games remaining, he reportedly did something similar as the full-time whistle proclaimed the win and moved Al-Nassr four points behind the leaders.
The third time is not so lucky, as there has been a lot of backlash and calls for sanctions. Renowned Saudi author Waleed al-Farraj stated on social media, “The disciplinary committee is facing the most significant test. We will wait and see. Everything has its limits, no matter how famous you are.
This is how the major leagues are.” Ayman al-Rifai, the former disciplinary committee chairman, fully anticipates punishment as the Saudi Arabian Football Federation conducts an investigation. This will probably result in a fine and a multiple-game suspension, probably in the range of two. This is as the Nassr vs. Hilal title race gets closer to its conclusion. The incident is significant for the nation, even though it may have little bearing on the championship race.
Ronaldo was the first to arrive in Saudi Arabia as the most significant player to sign with Al-Nassr in December 2022. Other high-profile players who have since arrived include Karim Benzema and Neymar. The player is associated with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a project that provides for establishing a sports complex, and the state owns the club.
He is not just a player then but an ambassador – as ironically is Messi – and has so far been a successful one. Ronaldo, the most well-liked person on Instagram, frequently shares photos of the nation on and off the field. The hotel I was staying at near the King Fahd International Stadium during the December Riyadh derby was packed with people who had traveled worldwide to witness him play.
These are the first terrible headlines, and it will be interesting to see what transpires and how his enormously wealthy employers respond. It should go without saying that Saudi Arabia is a conservative nation, notwithstanding historical changes in society. This incident is a chance to demonstrate to even the most prominent football stars that cultural norms and practices are not exclusive to them. With numerous headlines already created, the entire world is watching.
Stand by your favorite team! Head to our site and let them know you’re with them all the way.
Footballnewstoday | La Liga 2 | Saudi Pro League | Major League Soccer | J League | EFL Championship | Brazilian Serie A