Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain and standout player for Al Nassr, was right in the middle of the action as his club faced off against Al Hilal, a rival team from the city, in the Saudi Super Cup semifinal. It was an intense matchup in Abu Dhabi.
Ronaldo was later removed from the game as a result of the tensions reaching a breaking point. Al Nassr lost 2-1 to their superior opponents, despite a fierce battle on the pitch which kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last whistle.
Al Nassr is Eliminated!
Just four minutes before the final whistle, Portugal’s top goal scorer found himself in hot water after receiving a straight red card. Tension was high when he was seen elbowing an opponent, which led to his team’s 2-0 deficit, and his dismissal from the match.
Al Nassr pulled off a late consolation goal despite the setback, but the game will go down in history for the shocking turn in the star player’s departure, which had both spectators and commentators in stitches over the contentious affair.
It has only been five months since Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut in Al Nassr, but he has already decided that his Middle Eastern adventure is over and he wants to go. Ronaldo, 38, has reportedly become aware of the obvious contrasts between the infrastructure of the Saudi club and that in Europe, according to Mundo Deportivo. The Portuguese icon’s entourage has begun to publicly express the man’s wish to go back to Europe and look for suitors.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Blockbuster Move to Al Nassr
In January, Cristiano Ronaldo signed a two-year contract with Al Nassr worth reportedly €200 million annually after joining the club as a free agent. At Mr. Sool Park, he has made an impression, participating in 17 games across tournaments and contributing two assists in addition to 13 goals scored.
The storied striker’s team has had difficulties, though. Three points behind Al Ittihad, who currently lead the Saudi Pro League, Al-Alami is in second place. Early in April, following a succession of disappointing outcomes, manager Rudi Garcia was fired. Additionally, Cristiano Ronaldo will be punished with a four-month ban on his ability to participate in any official match. The way he left his previous club, Manchester United, was through a consensual contract termination, which is how this is different.
Ronaldo’s Bold Statement: Europe Conquered, Al Nassr Awaits
In joining Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo claimed that he had accomplished everything that could be accomplished in Europe. During his welcome speech at Mrsool Park, the legendary Portuguese speaker said: “I’m so proud to make this big decision in my life, in football. As you mentioned before, in Europe my work, it’s done. I won everything”, an article on Sportskeeda.com reported. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was undoubtedly telling the truth. Five times while living in Europe, Ronaldo won the UEFA Champions League. With Manchester United in England, Real Madrid in Spain, and Juventus in Italy, he also won league championships.
The legendary forward’s spellbinding exploits continue to turn the clock back, but in the final few months of his time at Old Trafford, they came to an end. His second stint with the Red Devils is now viewed as a misstep on the part of both parties.
Epic Showdown: Ronaldo and Messi Clash in Nine-Goal Thriller
It was an epic showdown in Saudi Arabia where hot shot Cristiano Ronaldo clashed with World Cup winner Lionel Messi that turned out to be a massive 9-goal thriller.
In 2022, it seemed that Ronaldo’s career was on a downturn, particularly after being frequently benched by coach Erik ten Hag. However, after leaving the United, Ronaldo found a new home at Al-Nassr, where he is treated like a true star. And he showed why the Saudi club put their trust in him.
Image Credit: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Instagram page
The special treatment has seemingly reinvigorated Ronaldo, and he has rediscovered the form that made him one of the best players in the world. This was evident in the exhibition match against long-time rival Messi, where both players scored.
Despite the efforts of Ronaldo and Messi, the 10-man Paris Saint-Germain team emerged victorious with a final score of 5-4, thanks to a late goal by Hugo Ekitike.
Football fans across the world received a lot of bang for their buck as a tale that has dominated the sport for more than ten years appeared to come to a close in a memorable goalfest, even though the match may not have much lasting relevance for the clubs involved.
Ronaldo and Messi’s alleged rivalry
The rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, two of the greatest soccer players of all time, with a combined total of 12 Ballon d’Or wins, has dominated the sport for over a decade and a half. Fans of the sport often find themselves fiercely supporting one or the other.
Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates after defeating Croatia 3-0 in the Qatar 2022 World Cup football semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 13, 2022. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)
Their rivalry reached its peak during the nine years they competed against each other in Spain, while Ronaldo was playing for Real Madrid and Messi for Barcelona.
Their latest encounter at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh was nothing short of thrilling. Ronaldo scored twice, offsetting goals from Messi and Marquinhos in an exciting first half. The match was further intensified by the sending off of PSG’s Juan Bernat for a lunging tackle on Saudi international Salem Al-Dawsari.
Both of their fan clubs are insane, especially on Twitter. The fights that they would have about their idols regarding the majority of the Premier League news is shocking. There were times where a transfer deal was going on with a club unrelated to the players, and either a Ronaldo or Messi fan would criticise one or the other.
The picture posted on B/R Football’s Twitter page seems neutral. It shows Ronaldo and Messi shaking hands after a good day’s game over the years and the multiple teams that they were in during the time. It shows that the fans and the media are the ones pitting them against each other.
There was never a comparison, it was only stirred up by corrupt journalists and Bots on SM, Ronaldo was mostly nothing but a tap in merchant, not even close to roben or henry per example, not even top 20 of all time, let alone comparable to #Messi🐐
As fans of the sport, it’s important to recognize that the time for these legends to shine on the field is coming to a close. Instead of continually arguing over who is better, it’s crucial that we take the time to cherish and appreciate the remaining years these players have left.
Many fans have already begun to commemorate this special moment in time, with some creating movie posters to capture the essence of this rivalry. It’s likely that in the future, movies will be made about the lives and legacies of both Ronaldo and Messi, as well as one that specifically highlights their intense rivalry. It’s a moment in history that should be savoured and remembered for years to come.
To no surprise, even positive tweets like this will still attract fans that are vehemently against the other player. One fan managed to even call Messi “Pessi.” Messi fans then posted photos of statistically how he is better than Ronaldo.
Regardless of this, it is understandable that there will be people liking one player more than the other. It is quite normal for everyone who is in the spotlight, regardless of their career. It is especially towards celebrities, to which the both of them are.
However, it’s important to remember that these players are more than just athletes, they are human beings who deserve respect. Using inappropriate language or attacking other fans for supporting them is not acceptable behaviour.
Both Ronaldo and Messi have made an indelible impact on the sport of football and their contributions cannot be replicated. Like Pele and Diego Maradona, they are irreplaceable legends in the history of the sport. It’s important that we recognize and appreciate their achievements rather than resorting to name-calling and divisive behaviour.
Money cannot always buy everything. And Cristiano Ronaldo ranks as an example as he remains clubless after his globally reported slap from English club Manchester United.
It’s reliably learnt that the Portuguese star striker has said no to Al Nassr, unwilling to accept the rather astonishing two-hundred-million-euro-a-season offer proposed to him by the Saudi Arabian club.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
According to the English media, the five-time Ballon d’Or football award winner wants to stay in Europe, in particular at a club that plays the Champions League.
Former award-winning Singapore coach Jita Singh, now in Qatar for the matches, said: “I believe Ronaldo still wants to measure himself in world-class football that counts and therefore will likely say no, not only to the Arabs.”
He may also turn his back on the offer coming from the United States from David Beckham’s Inter Miami.And there are whispers of a possible return to Sporting, while the European big names remain very cold toward him at the moment.
Jita added: “He is in demand for sure, but joining the right big-name club matters to him more than money. He’s definitely the most-talked-about player despite his unpredictable temperament.”
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor.
Cristiano Ronaldo reached a stunning milestone as he scored his 750th club goal, leaving his stamp in the annals of football history. In the 22nd minute of Al Nassr’s Saudi Pro League match against Al Shabab, the Portuguese maestro scored a goal with style from the penalty spot. Ronaldo’s incredible ability to score goals keeps the world enthralled and represents yet another remarkable turn in his legendary career.
Ronaldo’s 750th goal for the club is evidence of his unwavering skill on the football field. The Portuguese phenomenon’s accurate execution of the penalty kick in the Al Nassr versus Al Shabab match not only demonstrated his ability to score goals but also highlighted his consistent influence in the Saudi Pro League’s competitive environment. Ronaldo’s capacity to continually redefine football brilliance continues to captivate fans across the globe as he adds yet another award to his remarkable collection.
The tense encounter between Nassr and Shabab reached a crescendo when Nassr was given a penalty for a handball infraction that Shabab’s Iago Santos had committed. The stage was ready, and the crowd was buzzing with excitement as the great Ronaldo took his place with poise. He established his dominance on the field as he skillfully buried the ball in the back of the net in an instant of pure precision and skill. Fans were on the edge of their seats during the thrilling sequence as the maestro converted the penalty with ease, displaying the best of football creativity.
Ronaldo now has 877 goals
Throughout his remarkable career, football maestro Lionel Messi has scored 715 goals for his team. Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, has scored a goal in each of his four games this year, 2024, demonstrating his continued skill as a goal scorer.
After scoring goals in his last nine league games, the maestro has ignited the pitch with an incredible feat. He now leads the league in goals scored with an incredible 22. Ronaldo’s unwavering dedication to achieving peak performance on the field cements his reputation as a goal-scoring phenomenon, with supporters looking forward to seeing him play football.
Manchester United defeated the Wolves last Saturday and their manager, and Erik ten Hag refused to comment on Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia, but really who cares what he has to say? It appears that their feud is still ongoing which is no surprise.
On Friday, Ronaldo completed his transfer to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr and signed a contract with the team through 2025. His enormous contract, which is reportedly worth £173 million a year, comes one month after his United contract was mutually ended as a result of a controversial interview with Piers Morgan.
With Marcus Rashford scoring for the third game in a row since the World Cup to defeat Wolves 1-0, United has not yet missed the Portuguese superstar. Ten Hag punished Rashford for some late arrivals but had to bow down and field the scorer to win the match.
After Ronaldo claimed he felt “betrayed” by the club, Ten Hag was eager to get rid of the player, and he is now eager to put the incident behind him.
Ten Hag stated, “I don’t talk about the past, let’s talk about the future.”
He then added, “First time we are in the top four, but it means nothing because it is a long way to go. We have to live from game to game, get in the position to win something.”
With regards to Manchester United’s current win, we will have to wait and see how they will compete against the ever growing Reds in the Premier League. Furthermore, with the transfer period just beginning in January, it will give a chance to all the Premier League teams to beef up their player rotation.
Fan reaction to Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr move
Cristiano Ronaldo's reported contract at Al-Nassr will see him earn $548k a day 😳💰 pic.twitter.com/AFBVFP7Uel
Netizens are rumourmongering that Ronaldo will be paid $500,000 a day with Al-Nassr. It is a pretty penny for a days work. The cost breakdown shows that he will earn $6.00 per second. It seems to be that Ronaldo has woken up in a better place after leaving his old club.
Fans that disagree with his move to Al-Nassr posted screenshots of him making statements that he would rather retire in “dignity” instead of playing with USA, and Arab clubs. The statement appears to be true, as the Guardian published a whole article about it in 2015.
Those that are unhappy with him earning that amount of money stated that he doesn’t need more. These people then claimed that the Middle Easterners are “human rights abusers” and that he should not be playing for a club like that.
More comparisons were made between Ronaldo and Messi. Messi fans stated that Ronaldo has lost the battle ground to be our generation’s greatest of all time. Comments that describe their surprise that Ronaldo is joining an Arab team are also quite apparent.
Positive remarks about him taking over the Middle East are also quite a popular opinion. He is still an amazing player regardless of all the unfortunate incidents that laid upon him in 2022. Statements of him ending his European career for joining Al-Nassr were made.
