Bayern Munich midfielder Thomas Muller referenced Cristiano Ronaldo after Real Madrid came from behind to clinch a famous victory and dump the Bavarian side out of the Champions League. Muller was speaking about the disallowed Bayern goal that would have taken the match into extra time.

The German giants surrendered a one-goal lead to Madrid in the dying minutes of the game due to individual errors.

However, during the press&nbsp;duties, Muller said the referees favoured the Spanish side, as they did in 2017&nbsp;

"Marciniak? He did not watch the video. He did not give himself the opportunity to look at it," said Muller, talking about the Polish referee.&nbsp;

"It's really strange, in such a situation, to whistle so fast. This often happens here in Madrid. "I experienced this a few years ago, with two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo. But it was before the VAR," he added.&nbsp;

The incident Muller referred to occurred in the second leg of the UCL quarter-final tie in 2016-17 which saw Real Madrid beat Bayern 4-2 after extra-time to secure a 6-3 aggregate win.

Ronaldo scored twice in the added time, helping Madrid reach the next round. However, replays showed that both goals should have been chalked off due to offside.&nbsp;VAR had not been introduced in European competition at the time, so the on-field decisions were final.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/real-madrid-stun-bayern-munich-with-late-fightback-to-enter-uefa-champions-league-final-719512" target="_blank">Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;Real Madrid stun Bayern Munich with late fightback to enter UEFA Champions League final</a>

<h2>Linesman apologises&nbsp;</h2>

Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt scored the contentious goal in the stoppage time but it was ruled out as the linesman had raised the offside flag. After the match, De Ligt claimed that the linesman apologised to him for disallowing the goal.&nbsp;

“The rule says that if it’s not clear offside...you have to keep playing.” De Ligt said. “And if you go in the last minute and you whistle like this, I think this is a big mistake. If it’s offside or not, I don’t know, VAR can check it, but if you don’t check it, how can you see it? This is a shame.”

The offside on the De Ligt goal looked close to the naked eye but since the whistle was blown, VAR could not involve itself in the recheck process.&nbsp;

The Madrid win means the record UCL holders will have a shot at a 15th title when they square up against underdogs, Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Bayern Munich midfielder Thomas Muller referenced Cristiano Ronaldo after Real Madrid came from behind to clinch a famous victory and dump the Bavarian side out of the Champions League.

Bayern Munich midfielder Thomas Muller referenced Cristiano Ronaldo after Real Madrid came from behind to clinch a famous victory and dump the Bavarian side out of the Champions League. Muller was speaking about the disallowed Bayern goal that would have taken the match into extra time. The German giants surrendered a one-goal lead to Madrid in the dying minutes of the game due to individual errors. However, during the press duties, Muller said the referees favoured the Spanish side, as they did in 2017 "Marciniak? He did not watch the video. He did not give himself the opportunity to look at it," said Muller, talking about the Polish referee. "It's really strange, in such a situation, to whistle so fast. This often happens here in Madrid. "I experienced this a few years ago, with two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo. But it was before the VAR," he added. The incident Muller referred to occurred in the second leg of the UCL quarter-final tie in 2016-17 which saw Real Madrid beat Bayern 4-2 after extra-time to secure a 6-3 aggregate win. Ronaldo scored twice in the added time, helping Madrid reach the next round. However, replays showed that both goals should have been chalked off due to offside. VAR had not been introduced in European competition at the time, so the on-field decisions were final. Also read | Real Madrid stun Bayern Munich with late fightback to enter UEFA Champions League final Linesman apologises Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt scored the contentious goal in the stoppage time but it was ruled out as the linesman had raised the offside flag. After the match, De Ligt claimed that the linesman apologised to him for disallowing the goal. “The rule says that if it’s not clear offside...you have to keep playing.” De Ligt said. “And if you go in the last minute and you whistle like this, I think this is a big mistake. If it’s offside or not, I don’t know, VAR can check it, but if you don’t check it, how can you see it? This is a shame.” The offside on the De Ligt goal looked close to the naked eye but since the whistle was blown, VAR could not involve itself in the recheck process. The Madrid win means the record UCL holders will have a shot at a 15th title when they square up against underdogs, Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1. (With inputs from agencies)

'Experienced this few years ago': Furious Thomas Muller recalls Ronaldo's controversial goals after UCL exit

Juventus are reviewing a decision made by an arbitration court which ordered the club to pay former striker Cristiano Ronaldo around 9.8 million euros in owed wages, the Serie A side said on Wednesday. The Portuguese, who now plays for Saudi side Al-Nassr, had claimed he was owed around 19.5 million euros ($20.81 million) of outstanding wages by his former club relating to a paycut agreed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The arbitration board... ascertained the validity of (Ronaldo's) compensation reduction agreement in relation to the 2020/21 sporting season," Juventus said in a statement sent to Reuters.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-real-madrid-eliminate-man-city-in-penalty-shootout-to-reach-semis-bayern-knockout-arsenal-712422">Champions League: Real Madrid eliminate Man City in penalty shootout to reach semis; Bayern knockout Arsenal</a>

The arbitration tribunal ruled Juve had to pay half of the sum requested by the 39-year-old Portugal striker. "They partially granted the request made by (Ronaldo)..., ascertaining Juventus' pre-contractual liability resulting from the failure of negotiations and ordered the defendant to pay an amount of approximately Euro 9.8 million," Juve said.

"The Company, also with the support of its legal counsel, is reviewing the decision made by the arbitration board, reserving all assessments and initiatives to preserve its rights."

Ronaldo joined Juventus in August 2018 and helped them to two consecutive Serie A titles, an Italian Cup and two Super Cups, before leaving Italy to join Manchester United in 2021.

Juventus are reviewing a decision made by an arbitration court which ordered the club to pay former striker Cristiano Ronaldo around 9.8 million euros in owed wages, the Serie A side said on Wednesday.

Juventus are reviewing a decision made by an arbitration court which ordered the club to pay former striker Cristiano Ronaldo around 9.8 million euros in owed wages, the Serie A side said on Wednesday. The Portuguese, who now plays for Saudi side Al-Nassr, had claimed he was owed around 19.5 million euros ($20.81 million) of outstanding wages by his former club relating to a paycut agreed during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The arbitration board... ascertained the validity of (Ronaldo's) compensation reduction agreement in relation to the 2020/21 sporting season," Juventus said in a statement sent to Reuters. Also read: Champions League: Real Madrid eliminate Man City in penalty shootout to reach semis; Bayern knockout Arsenal The arbitration tribunal ruled Juve had to pay half of the sum requested by the 39-year-old Portugal striker. "They partially granted the request made by (Ronaldo)..., ascertaining Juventus' pre-contractual liability resulting from the failure of negotiations and ordered the defendant to pay an amount of approximately Euro 9.8 million," Juve said. "The Company, also with the support of its legal counsel, is reviewing the decision made by the arbitration board, reserving all assessments and initiatives to preserve its rights." Ronaldo joined Juventus in August 2018 and helped them to two consecutive Serie A titles, an Italian Cup and two Super Cups, before leaving Italy to join Manchester United in 2021.

Juventus review ruling as club ordered to pay former striker Cristiano Ronaldo 9.8 million euros

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 65th career hat-trick and second in as many matches as Al-Nassr thrashed Abha 8-0 in the Saudi Pro League on Tuesday (April 2).

Ronaldo converted two free kicks in the match's first 20 minutes before turning assist provider with a cutback for former Liverpool forward and Senegal international Sadio Mane.

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The 39-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner then completed his hat-trick in the 42nd minute with a beautiful first-time chip finish of the Abha goalkeeper, bringing his tally for the season to a league-leading 29, seven clear of his nearest rival in the race for the golden boot.

Ronaldo made it five total goal contributions two minutes later when he set Saudi midfielder Abdulmajeed Al-

Sulaiheem up for a tap-in before Abdulrahman Ghareeb scored six minutes after the restart and second-half substitute Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa netted a brace with goals in the 63rd and 86th minutes to conclude the goal fest.

The 8-0 annihilation sees Al-Nassr move up to 62 points, 12 behind league leaders Al-Hilal who also secured a comprehensive 3-0 win at home to Al-Okhdood on Tuesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 65th career hat-trick and second in as many matches as Al-Nassr thrashed Abha 8-0 in the Saudi Pro League on Tuesday (April 2). Ronaldo converted two free kicks in the match's first 20 minutes before turning assist provider with a cutback for former Liverpool forward and Senegal international Sadio Mane.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 65th career hat-trick and second in as many matches as Al-Nassr thrashed Abha 8-0 in the Saudi Pro League on Tuesday (April 2). Ronaldo converted two free kicks in the match's first 20 minutes before turning assist provider with a cutback for former Liverpool forward and Senegal international Sadio Mane. Also Read: Arsenal remain enthusiastic and hungry for Premier League title, admits coach Arteta The 39-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner then completed his hat-trick in the 42nd minute with a beautiful first-time chip finish of the Abha goalkeeper, bringing his tally for the season to a league-leading 29, seven clear of his nearest rival in the race for the golden boot. Ronaldo made it five total goal contributions two minutes later when he set Saudi midfielder Abdulmajeed Al- Sulaiheem up for a tap-in before Abdulrahman Ghareeb scored six minutes after the restart and second-half substitute Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa netted a brace with goals in the 63rd and 86th minutes to conclude the goal fest. The 8-0 annihilation sees Al-Nassr move up to 62 points, 12 behind league leaders Al-Hilal who also secured a comprehensive 3-0 win at home to Al-Okhdood on Tuesday.

Saudi Pro League: Ronaldo's second hattrick in as many games guides Al-Nassr to 8-0 win over Abha

A hotel bed in Slovenia where Cristiano Ronaldo slept during Portugal's recent friendly match will be going under the hammer, with the bidding opening at $5,300.&nbsp;

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was part of the Portuguese squad which had stayed at the Grand Plaza Hotel during a visit to&nbsp;Ljubljana. The hotel management has now collaborated with media company POP TV to announce the auction of Ronaldo's bed, with all the proceeds going to charity.&nbsp;

“Since this was a rather special and unique event, we decided to prepare a unique surprise in which all fans can participate. We do not know when we will have the opportunity to host Ronaldo in Slovenia again," read the statement.&nbsp;

"At a special auction, we will offer the bed in which the star Cristiano Ronaldo slept at our place. We wish everyone good luck and successful participation in the event," it added.&nbsp;

Although the bidding is starting at a modest price, the hotel management is hopeful that the craze for Ronaldo will lead to a skyrocketing sum. Despite being in Slovenian capital, not&nbsp;many fans could get close to Ronaldo but the opportunity to snatch a&nbsp;CR7-themed memorabilia could be exciting for them.&nbsp;

Notably, this is not the first instance when memorabilia attached to the Portuguese superstar has attracted such attention. After Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia post his tumultuous second stint with Manchester United, the shirt that he wore in the final game for the Red Devils against Aston Villa, fetched over $48,000.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-i-did-was-cristiano-ronaldo-opens-up-about-making-obscene-gesture-699066">Also read |&nbsp;‘What I did was...’: Cristiano Ronaldo opens up about making obscene gesture</a>

<h2>Ronald returns to Portuguese side</h2>

Ronaldo had returned to the Portugal squad for the friendly after being rested for the game against Sweden. However, Portugal succumbed to a 0-2 defeat as Robert&nbsp;Martinez suffered his first loss as the coach of the national team.&nbsp;

Ronaldo could be seen leaving the pitch angry whilst mouthing the referee for not giving two supposed clear penalties. Despite Ronaldo starting, Portugal were played off the field by the resolute Slovenia side. The 2016 Euro champions conceded twice in the second half to end the international break on a sour note.&nbsp;

After the match, Ronaldo returned to his club side Al-Nassr and scored a hattrick over the weekend in a 5-1 victory against Al-Tai.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A hotel bed in Slovenia where Cristiano Ronaldo slept during Portugal's recent friendly match will be going under the hammer, with the bidding opening at $5,300.

A hotel bed in Slovenia where Cristiano Ronaldo slept during Portugal's recent friendly match will be going under the hammer, with the bidding opening at $5,300. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was part of the Portuguese squad which had stayed at the Grand Plaza Hotel during a visit to Ljubljana. The hotel management has now collaborated with media company POP TV to announce the auction of Ronaldo's bed, with all the proceeds going to charity. “Since this was a rather special and unique event, we decided to prepare a unique surprise in which all fans can participate. We do not know when we will have the opportunity to host Ronaldo in Slovenia again," read the statement. "At a special auction, we will offer the bed in which the star Cristiano Ronaldo slept at our place. We wish everyone good luck and successful participation in the event," it added. Although the bidding is starting at a modest price, the hotel management is hopeful that the craze for Ronaldo will lead to a skyrocketing sum. Despite being in Slovenian capital, not many fans could get close to Ronaldo but the opportunity to snatch a CR7-themed memorabilia could be exciting for them. Notably, this is not the first instance when memorabilia attached to the Portuguese superstar has attracted such attention. After Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia post his tumultuous second stint with Manchester United, the shirt that he wore in the final game for the Red Devils against Aston Villa, fetched over $48,000. Also read | ‘What I did was...’: Cristiano Ronaldo opens up about making obscene gesture Ronald returns to Portuguese side Ronaldo had returned to the Portugal squad for the friendly after being rested for the game against Sweden. However, Portugal succumbed to a 0-2 defeat as Robert Martinez suffered his first loss as the coach of the national team. Ronaldo could be seen leaving the pitch angry whilst mouthing the referee for not giving two supposed clear penalties. Despite Ronaldo starting, Portugal were played off the field by the resolute Slovenia side. The 2016 Euro champions conceded twice in the second half to end the international break on a sour note. After the match, Ronaldo returned to his club side Al-Nassr and scored a hattrick over the weekend in a 5-1 victory against Al-Tai. (With inputs from agencies)

Hotel bed in which Cristiano Ronaldo slept in Slovenia to be auctioned. Details here

Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane has invited criticism after he escaped a red card during his team's AFC Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash against Al Ain on Monday (Mar 11).

Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane has invited criticism after he escaped a red card during his team's AFC Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash against Al Ain on Monday (Mar 11). Mane grabbed the throat of Al-Anin defender Saeed Juma's throat in a heated moment but was only awarded a yellow card by the referee. The former Liverpool star who made the move to Saudi Arabia last year, was playing as his side attempted to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. However, Al Nassr conceded two more goals before Abdulrahman Ghareeb pulled one back towards the end of the first half. A minute before former Manchester United player Alex Telles scored the decisive third goal to force extra-time, Mane seemingly lost his calm and grabbed the opposition player's throat which was caught on camera. Sadio Mané saw yellow for this exchange 👀 pic.twitter.com/511e41JMOW — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 11, 2024 × Al-Ain manager Hernan Crespo stood on the sidelines and strongly protested the referee's decision to only show a yellow card to the Senegalese star. Also read | ‘What I did was...’: Cristiano Ronaldo opens up about making obscene gesture However, Mane's impact on the pitch remained muted as his side crashed out of the tournament following a 1-3 loss in the penalties after the game ended all square at the end of extra time. After the match ended, a huge scuffle broke out between the two sides with Cristiano Ronaldo at the centre of it. Referres and officials from both teams had to intervene to break up the kerfuffle. اشتباكات بالجملة بعد نهاية المباراة 😨‼️#النصر_العين pic.twitter.com/5XX7MHPb3i — KHALID ALOLYAN 🇸🇦🐪 (@OLYAN15K) March 11, 2024 × After being dumped out of the continental tournament, Al-Nassr would hope to win the league title but it appears out of their hands as well. The team led by Ronaldo currently sits second in the league table with Al-Hilal leading the pack by a gap of 12 points. Notably, Monday was not the first instance when Mane has faced criticism for his actions. He was fined and punished by Bayern Munich last year for punching teammate Leroy Sane during a dressing room bust-up. Sane was left with a bloody lip and played one of the matches with the injury. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr teammate Sadio Mane escapes red card after grabbing opponent’s throat

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up for the first time about the obscene gesture that saw him suspended for a Saudi Pro League game last month. Ronaldo admitted his gesture was a "mistake" and that it was a "misunderstanding".

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up for the first time about the obscene gesture that saw him suspended for a Saudi Pro League game last month. Ronaldo admitted his gesture was a "mistake" and that it was a "misunderstanding". Ronaldo made an obscene gesture toward Al-Shabab fans, who chanted Lionel Messi's name to rile him up during Al-Nassr's 3-2 win. "I take this opportunity to talk about the case in which I was punished for a game. What I did was a misunderstanding. I will always respect the cultures of all countries, but what people see is not always reality," said Ronaldo in a news conference. Ronaldo said he did not make the gesture on purpose and that it happened in the heat of the moment. "Whenever I make them [mistakes], I don't do it on purpose. Every day I try to be a better man." Quizzed if he could improve his behaviour to set a better example, Ronaldo did not make any promises. "I can't promise because I'm a human being. Nobody is perfect. Life is made of mistakes. What I can promise is that I am a player who gives everything on the field, a player with passion, a player who always wants to win." Also read | Cristiano Ronaldo lands in trouble for obscene gesture after Al Nassr's win over Al Shabab in Saudi Pro League After Ronaldo's gesture, a disciplinary committee not only handed the one-match ban but also imposed a hefty fine of 10,000 Saudi riyals ($2,666) to be paid to the Saudi Football Federation and 20,000 riyals to Al-Shabab in order to bear the costs of the complaint filing fees. In addition, the committee revealed that the decision is not subject to appeal. Ronaldo served the ban and paid the fine but his team could only draw the next game against Al Hazm. Al Nassr currently sits second in the league table, with Al-Hilal leading the pack by a gap of 12 points. Notably, it wasn't the first instance when Ronaldo's obnoxious behaviour and gestures had made the heads turn. In April 2023, the veteran appeared to grab his genitals while heading to the dugout after Al Nassr's 0-2 league loss to arch-rivals Al Hilal. (With inputs from agencies)

‘What I did was...’: Cristiano Ronaldo opens up about making obscene gesture

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr dropped further behind Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal with a stunning 3-1 loss to struggling Buraidah club Al-Raed on home turf in Riyadh on Thursday (March 7).

Al-Raed got on the board first in the 18th minute when Cape Verdean striker Julio Tavares beat the defence to find Karim El Berkaoui waiting in the box to finish it off with an easy boot.

Al-Nassr answered back just five minutes later when Ronaldo hit the post, leaving Saudi native Ayman Yahya there to clean it up off the rebound and get the home team on the board.

But right out of the gates of the second half, Moroccan midfielder Mohamed Fouzair made it 2-1 when he was well-positioned in the box to pick up a nice assist from Amir Sayoud.

Al-Nassr goalkeeper David Ospina got a hand on it, but it shot up into the top left corner.

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The visitors sealed the win with Fouzair scoring again off a corner from defender Khalid Al-Subaie making it 3-1.

Ronaldo had a chance to lessen the pain with a free kick in stoppage time, but his attempt hit the crossbar and went over the goal.

The loss leaves second-place Al-Nassr with 53 points, nine behind leaders Al-Hilal who have a game in hand.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr dropped further behind Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal with a stunning 3-1 loss to struggling Buraidah club Al-Raed on home turf in Riyadh on Thursday (March 7).

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr dropped further behind Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal with a stunning 3-1 loss to struggling Buraidah club Al-Raed on home turf in Riyadh on Thursday (March 7). Al-Raed got on the board first in the 18th minute when Cape Verdean striker Julio Tavares beat the defence to find Karim El Berkaoui waiting in the box to finish it off with an easy boot. Al-Nassr answered back just five minutes later when Ronaldo hit the post, leaving Saudi native Ayman Yahya there to clean it up off the rebound and get the home team on the board. But right out of the gates of the second half, Moroccan midfielder Mohamed Fouzair made it 2-1 when he was well-positioned in the box to pick up a nice assist from Amir Sayoud. Al-Nassr goalkeeper David Ospina got a hand on it, but it shot up into the top left corner. ALSO READ | Leicester City at risk of points deduction for breaching profit and sustainability regulations The visitors sealed the win with Fouzair scoring again off a corner from defender Khalid Al-Subaie making it 3-1. Ronaldo had a chance to lessen the pain with a free kick in stoppage time, but his attempt hit the crossbar and went over the goal. The loss leaves second-place Al-Nassr with 53 points, nine behind leaders Al-Hilal who have a game in hand.

Saudi Pro League: Al-Raed romp Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr 3-1, lose further ground in title race

Portugal captain and Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a one-match suspension for his obscene gesture during his side's Saudi Arabia league game versus Al Shabab, which they won 3-2. After the encounter, the 39-year-old&nbsp;made a&nbsp;gesture towards the crowd, which went viral on social media platforms.

Ronaldo's gesture appeared to be aimed at rival Al Shabab supporters who were teasing him with "Messi" chants. Thus, the committee stated that the Portuguese star would have to pay a hefty fine of 10,000 Saudi riyals ($2,666) to the Saudi Football Federation and 20,000 riyals to Al-Shabab in order to bear the costs of the complaint filing fees.

In addition, the committee revealed that the decision is not subject to appeal. This is not the first instance of Ronaldo's behaviour and gestures making heads turn. In April 2023, the veteran appeared to grab his genitals while heading&nbsp;to the dugout after Al Nassr's 0-2 league loss to arch-rivals Al Hilal.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fa-cup-wins-for-man-united-and-liverpool-ensure-rivals-meet-in-quarterfinals-694960">FA Cup: Wins for Man United and Liverpool ensure rivals meet in quarterfinals</a>

Recently, Ronaldo opened up on his obscene gesture and said, "I respect all clubs. And the joy after the [game] expresses strength and victory, and it is not shameful. We are used to it in Europe."

At present, Ronaldo leads the Saudi league scoring charts with 22 goals in 20 appearances in the ongoing season. Al Nassr are placed second in the table with 52 points, four&nbsp;behind top-ranked Al Hilal, who have&nbsp;one game in hand.

Portugal captain and Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a one-match suspension for his obscene gesture during his side's Saudi Arabia league game versus Al Shabab, which they won 3-2.

Portugal captain and Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a one-match suspension for his obscene gesture during his side's Saudi Arabia league game versus Al Shabab, which they won 3-2. After the encounter, the 39-year-old made a gesture towards the crowd, which went viral on social media platforms. Ronaldo's gesture appeared to be aimed at rival Al Shabab supporters who were teasing him with "Messi" chants. Thus, the committee stated that the Portuguese star would have to pay a hefty fine of 10,000 Saudi riyals ($2,666) to the Saudi Football Federation and 20,000 riyals to Al-Shabab in order to bear the costs of the complaint filing fees. In addition, the committee revealed that the decision is not subject to appeal. This is not the first instance of Ronaldo's behaviour and gestures making heads turn. In April 2023, the veteran appeared to grab his genitals while heading to the dugout after Al Nassr's 0-2 league loss to arch-rivals Al Hilal. Also read: FA Cup: Wins for Man United and Liverpool ensure rivals meet in quarterfinals Recently, Ronaldo opened up on his obscene gesture and said, "I respect all clubs. And the joy after the [game] expresses strength and victory, and it is not shameful. We are used to it in Europe." At present, Ronaldo leads the Saudi league scoring charts with 22 goals in 20 appearances in the ongoing season. Al Nassr are placed second in the table with 52 points, four behind top-ranked Al Hilal, who have one game in hand.

Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo handed one-match suspension for obscene gesture in Saudi league tie

Al Nassr and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has landed in trouble for a&nbsp;gesture during his side’s 3-2 win over Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday (Feb 25). Ronaldo, now in his second season with the Riyadh-based club, is reported to have made an obscene gesture that could see him get sanctioned for a few matches. If found guilty, Ronaldo could be&nbsp;banned for a few matches in the Saudi top flight, which&nbsp;could be a major disaster for Al Nassr considering their position in the league table.

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Cristiano Ronaldo under investigation for alleged lewd gesture to Saudi league fans chanting 'Messi' 
 
Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported that the country’s football federation had opened an investigation into the incident, but Al Nassr had not made any official comments… <a href="https://t.co/J4ZyqH5rwg">pic.twitter.com/J4ZyqH5rwg</a>
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) <a href="https://twitter.com/unlimited_ls/status/1761939513218109745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Ronaldo lands in trouble</h2>

Social media footage showed Ronaldo clutching his ear after the final whistle and then repeatedly making the obscene gesture. It seemed that the action was aimed at the supporters of the opposition Al Shabab group. The video on social media also suggests that Messi chants were heard in the background who was Ronaldo’s long-term rival at the international level. The chants came from opposition fans of Al Shabab and this is what supposedly&nbsp;provoked the five-time Champions League winner.

However, no television camera caught the incident which could see Ronaldo avoid the sanction. Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has opened an investigation into the matter, according to Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat.

"The disciplinary committee is facing the biggest test. We will wait and see," Waleed Al Farraj, a prominent Saudi writer and television host, said on social media platform X.

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"Everything has its limits, no matter how famous you are. This is how the major leagues are."

The match had a topsy-turvy ending as Al Nassr needed an 86th-minute winner from Brazilian winger Talisca to get hold of three points. Talisca scored twice in the match along with Ronaldo in the 3-2 win where the latter had scored a 21st-minute penalty. The win saw Al Nassr close the gap on table toppers Al Hilal and are now within four points of them, however, Ronaldo’s side has played one match more than them.

With Al Nassr next in league action on Thursday, it will be interesting to see whether the SAFF takes any action on the star attraction of the league.

Al Nassr and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has landed in trouble for a gesture during his side’s 3-2 win over Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday (Feb 25).

Al Nassr and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has landed in trouble for a gesture during his side’s 3-2 win over Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday (Feb 25). Ronaldo, now in his second season with the Riyadh-based club, is reported to have made an obscene gesture that could see him get sanctioned for a few matches. If found guilty, Ronaldo could be banned for a few matches in the Saudi top flight, which could be a major disaster for Al Nassr considering their position in the league table. Cristiano Ronaldo under investigation for alleged lewd gesture to Saudi league fans chanting 'Messi' Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported that the country’s football federation had opened an investigation into the incident, but Al Nassr had not made any official comments… pic.twitter.com/J4ZyqH5rwg — Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) February 26, 2024 × Ronaldo lands in trouble Social media footage showed Ronaldo clutching his ear after the final whistle and then repeatedly making the obscene gesture. It seemed that the action was aimed at the supporters of the opposition Al Shabab group. The video on social media also suggests that Messi chants were heard in the background who was Ronaldo’s long-term rival at the international level. The chants came from opposition fans of Al Shabab and this is what supposedly provoked the five-time Champions League winner. However, no television camera caught the incident which could see Ronaldo avoid the sanction. Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has opened an investigation into the matter, according to Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat. "The disciplinary committee is facing the biggest test. We will wait and see," Waleed Al Farraj, a prominent Saudi writer and television host, said on social media platform X. ALSO READ | IND vs ENG, 4th Test: England spinner Shoaib Bashir excited about 'chance to be heroes' on day 4 in Ranchi "Everything has its limits, no matter how famous you are. This is how the major leagues are." The match had a topsy-turvy ending as Al Nassr needed an 86th-minute winner from Brazilian winger Talisca to get hold of three points. Talisca scored twice in the match along with Ronaldo in the 3-2 win where the latter had scored a 21st-minute penalty. The win saw Al Nassr close the gap on table toppers Al Hilal and are now within four points of them, however, Ronaldo’s side has played one match more than them. With Al Nassr next in league action on Thursday, it will be interesting to see whether the SAFF takes any action on the star attraction of the league.

Cristiano Ronaldo lands in trouble for obscene gesture after Al Nassr's win over Al Shabab in Saudi Pro League

Cristiano Ronaldo-starrer Al Nassr had a forgettable outing against Al Hilal in the Riyadh Season Cup final on Thursday (Feb 8). Al Hilal defeated Al Nassr 2-0 in a game where Ronaldo&nbsp;was largely ineffective. The Portugal star had four shots during the fixture but only a solitary one needed to be saved by Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bonou. During the game, Ronaldo was teased with Lionel Messi chants by Al-Hilal fans and the veteran lost his cool.

The Portuguese superstar reacted to the Messi chants&nbsp;and was heard saying, "I am here now. Not Messi." Here is the video:

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🗣️ Cristiano Ronaldo to Al Hilal Fans: "I am here... not Messi." 
 
Tears man he's so Insecure 😭😭😭<a href="https://t.co/13DrhhObCZ">pic.twitter.com/13DrhhObCZ</a>
— ACE (@FCB_ACEE) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCB_ACEE/status/1755724429051793698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ifab-to-introduce-blue-cards-as-part-of-trials-of-sin-bins-in-professional-football-sources-688476">IFAB to introduce blue cards as part of trials of sin bins in professional football - sources</a>

Another video surfaced on social media platforms which&nbsp;showed Ronaldo directing an indecent gesture towards Al-Hilal and its fans. The striker&nbsp;was making his way out of the pitch when a couple of Al-Hilal scarfs were thrown at him. To this, the 39-year-old took the scarf&nbsp;and pointed towards his crotch area, before throwing it away.&nbsp;

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🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 
 
تصرف غير اخلاقي من كريستيانو رونالدو؛ حيث وضع شال الهلال في مكان غير لائق ثم قام برميه!!!!!! <a href="https://t.co/OUBzFWKjP7">pic.twitter.com/OUBzFWKjP7</a>
— نواف الآسيوي 🇸🇦 (@football_ll55) <a href="https://twitter.com/football_ll55/status/1755704215702274084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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It is to be noted that&nbsp;Ronaldo and Messi were set to face&nbsp;each other during the Riyadh Season Cup, however,&nbsp;an injury to the Portuguese star&nbsp;prevented the marquee face-off. Al-Nassr went on to humiliate&nbsp;Inter Miami 6-0 in the match.

Ronaldo-starrer&nbsp;Al-Nassr will now shift their focus towards the AFC Champions League Round of 16 clash after the disappointing show versus Al Hilal.&nbsp;

Cristiano Ronaldo-starrer Al Nassr had a forgettable outing against Al Hilal in the Riyadh Season Cup final on Thursday (Feb 8). Al Hilal defeated Al Nassr 2-0 in a game where Ronaldo was largely ineffective.

Cristiano Ronaldo-starrer Al Nassr had a forgettable outing against Al Hilal in the Riyadh Season Cup final on Thursday (Feb 8). Al Hilal defeated Al Nassr 2-0 in a game where Ronaldo was largely ineffective. The Portugal star had four shots during the fixture but only a solitary one needed to be saved by Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bonou. During the game, Ronaldo was teased with Lionel Messi chants by Al-Hilal fans and the veteran lost his cool. The Portuguese superstar reacted to the Messi chants and was heard saying, "I am here now. Not Messi." Here is the video: 🗣️ 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 × Also read: IFAB to introduce blue cards as part of trials of sin bins in professional football - sources Another video surfaced on social media platforms which showed Ronaldo directing an indecent gesture towards Al-Hilal and its fans. The striker was making his way out of the pitch when a couple of Al-Hilal scarfs were thrown at him. To this, the 39-year-old took the scarf and pointed towards his crotch area, before throwing it away. 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 تصرف غير اخلاقي من كريستيانو رونالدو؛ حيث وضع شال الهلال في مكان غير لائق ثم قام برميه!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/OUBzFWKjP7 — نواف الآسيوي 🇸🇦 (@football_ll55) February 8, 2024 × It is to be noted that Ronaldo and Messi were set to face each other during the Riyadh Season Cup, however, an injury to the Portuguese star prevented the marquee face-off. Al-Nassr went on to humiliate Inter Miami 6-0 in the match. Ronaldo-starrer Al-Nassr will now shift their focus towards the AFC Champions League Round of 16 clash after the disappointing show versus Al Hilal.

Cristiano Ronaldo loses cool following Messi chants by Al Hilal fans, indecent reaction goes viral - Watch

The Kingdom arena in Riyadh was treated with a surprise as WWE legend and now-retired superstar The Undertaker, aka the Deadman, made a special appearance ahead of the start of the Riyadh Season Cup final between Al Hilal and Al-Nassr on Thursday (Feb 8). Not only the spectators in attendance but football great Cristiano Ronaldo was also shocked by the Undertaker’s surprise entrance.

Just when both teams lined up ahead of the final, The Undertaker’s theme song played with the WWE veteran walking down the aisle the way he did as an active wrestler during his time in televised shows and events.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-loses-cool-following-messi-chants-by-al-hilal-fans-indecent-reaction-goes-viral-watch-688503">Cristiano Ronaldo loses cool following Messi chants by Al Hilal fans, indecent reaction goes viral - Watch</a>

Wearing his usual in-ring gear - black hat, long coat and trousers, The Undertaker brought a smile to everyone’s faces with his shocking appearance. Even the all-time great Ronaldo looked delighted to see the WWE star gracing the occasion with his presence.

That little segment garnered a lot of media and social media attention, with fans from the sports and entertainment industry, respectively, enjoying every moment.

The Undertaker unveiled the Riyadh Season Cup trophy and lifted it.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE –

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المصارع أندرتيكر في ملعب المملكة أرينا🔥🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#الهلال_النصر</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%83%D8%A3%D8%B3_%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%85_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#كأس_موسم_الرياض</a>⁩ | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SSC</a> <a href="https://t.co/tJCM8ybzHf">pic.twitter.com/tJCM8ybzHf</a>
— SSC (@ssc_sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/ssc_sports/status/1755654962837631140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr goes down in final</h2>

Against their top rivals (Al Hilal), Al-Nassr fell shy of winning (losing by 0-2) the Riyadh Season Cup final in the capital city. Star striker Ronaldo didn’t have an outstanding return to the football field following his injury layoff.&nbsp;

The Al Hilal fans also chanted Lionel Messi's name during the game, upsetting Ronaldo, who replied to them saying, 'I am Cristiano, not Messi.'

Ronaldo last appeared for Al Nassr in a 4-1 league win at Al Taawon on December 30. Post the game, he suffered an injury which kept&nbsp;him away from on-field action for over a month. His club Al-Nassr decided to&nbsp;postponed their pre-season tour of China in January due to their star player's injury.

Meanwhile, Al-Nassr is second on the points table in the Saudi Pro League, with Al Hilal occupying the first place after 19 matches.

The Kingdom arena in Riyadh was treated with a surprise as WWE legend and now-retired superstar The Undertaker, aka the Deadman, made a special appearance ahead of the start of the Riyadh Season Cup final between Al Hilal and Al-Nassr on Thursday (Feb 8).

The Kingdom arena in Riyadh was treated with a surprise as WWE legend and now-retired superstar The Undertaker, aka the Deadman, made a special appearance ahead of the start of the Riyadh Season Cup final between Al Hilal and Al-Nassr on Thursday (Feb 8). Not only the spectators in attendance but football great Cristiano Ronaldo was also shocked by the Undertaker’s surprise entrance. Just when both teams lined up ahead of the final, The Undertaker’s theme song played with the WWE veteran walking down the aisle the way he did as an active wrestler during his time in televised shows and events. ALSO READ: Cristiano Ronaldo loses cool following Messi chants by Al Hilal fans, indecent reaction goes viral - Watch Wearing his usual in-ring gear - black hat, long coat and trousers, The Undertaker brought a smile to everyone’s faces with his shocking appearance. Even the all-time great Ronaldo looked delighted to see the WWE star gracing the occasion with his presence. That little segment garnered a lot of media and social media attention, with fans from the sports and entertainment industry, respectively, enjoying every moment. The Undertaker unveiled the Riyadh Season Cup trophy and lifted it. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE – المصارع أندرتيكر في ملعب المملكة أرينا🔥🤩#الهلال_النصر#كأس_موسم_الرياض⁩ | #SSC pic.twitter.com/tJCM8ybzHf — SSC (@ssc_sports) February 8, 2024 × Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr goes down in final Against their top rivals (Al Hilal), Al-Nassr fell shy of winning (losing by 0-2) the Riyadh Season Cup final in the capital city. Star striker Ronaldo didn’t have an outstanding return to the football field following his injury layoff. The Al Hilal fans also chanted Lionel Messi's name during the game, upsetting Ronaldo, who replied to them saying, 'I am Cristiano, not Messi.' Ronaldo last appeared for Al Nassr in a 4-1 league win at Al Taawon on December 30. Post the game, he suffered an injury which kept him away from on-field action for over a month. His club Al-Nassr decided to postponed their pre-season tour of China in January due to their star player's injury. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr is second on the points table in the Saudi Pro League, with Al Hilal occupying the first place after 19 matches.

Ronaldo stunned as WWE’s Undertaker makes special appearance ahead of Riyadh Season Cup final - WATCH

Al Nassr vs Al Hilal Live Streaming: Saudi Pro League teams Al Nassr and Al Hilal will lock horns in the final of the Riyadh Season Cup, a mid-season friendly tournament.

Al Nassr vs Al Hilal Live Streaming: Saudi Pro League teams Al Nassr and Al Hilal will lock horns in the final of the Riyadh Season Cup, a mid-season friendly tournament. The arch-rivals will enter the field after they put themselves in a shot of glory after winning their opening matches against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. Al-Hilal ended the year 2023 with an impressive 20-game winning streak in all competitions, scoring 60 goals. They started the year 2024 with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Inter Miami just over a week ago. Despite goals from Messi and Luis Suarez for the MLS team, Al-Hilal managed to come out on top thanks to an 88th-minute winning goal from Malcom. The team had already secured a lead in the first half with goals from Alexander Mitrovic, Abdullah Al-Hamddan and Michael. Al Nassr vs Al Hilal Live Streaming Details Here's everything you need to know about the live-streaming details for Al Nassr vs Al Hilal match. When is the Al Nassr vs Al Hilal match? Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr and Al Hilal will clash in a friendly match on Thursday (Feb 08). When will the Al Nassr vs Al Hilal match start? The Al Nassr v Al Hilal match will commence at 11:30 pm IST on Thursday. In the United States, the game will start at 01:00 pm ET, and in the UK, it will begin at 06:00 pm GMT. ALSO READ | Asian Cup: Defending champion Qatar beat Iran 3-2 in thriller to reach final; face Jordan for top prize Where is the Al Nassr vs Al Hilal match being played? The Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will host the friendly match between Al Nassr and Al Hilal. Where can I watch the Al Nassr vs Al Hilal match LIVE on TV? The live telecast of Al Nassr vs Al Hilal will not be available in India. How to watch the Al Nassr vs Al Hilal match live in India? Although the live streaming of the Al Nassr vs Al Hilal match is not available in India, fans can use the Saudi-based live streaming app Shahid to watch the game. How can I watch the Al Nassr vs Al Hilal match in my country? In the United Kingdom, fans can watch the Al Nassr vs Al Hilal match on DAZN. Meanwhile, in other countries, Saudi Arabia-based streaming platform Shahid will offer options to follow the game. (With inputs from agencies)

Ronaldo's Al Nassr vs Al Hilal Live Streaming: How to watch Riyadh Season Cup final match LIVE in your country

Al Nassr vs Al Hilal: Al Nassr and Al Hilal, two of the most prominent football clubs in Saudi Arabia, will compete in the final match of the Riyadh Season Cup. This game is the last friendly match during the mid-season break before the teams return to regular competition.

Al Nassr vs Al Hilal: Al Nassr and Al Hilal, two of the most prominent football clubs in Saudi Arabia, will compete in the final match of the Riyadh Season Cup. This game is the last friendly match during the mid-season break before the teams return to regular competition. Both teams have been in excellent form, winning their past five clashes. Thus, it will be an exciting game. Cristiano Ronaldo will return to the Al Nassr squad, and his presence will undoubtedly boost the team's morale. However, it remains to be seen if he can lead his team to victory over their arch-rivals. Al Hilal, on the other hand, will be confident heading into the fixture. They won their previous encounter convincingly, defeating Al Nassr 3-0. Aleksander Mitrovic, the Serbian footballer, was the standout performer on the day, scoring twice. ALSO READ | Ronaldo's Al Nassr vs Al Hilal Live Streaming: How to watch Riyadh Season Cup final match LIVE in your country Al-Hilal are currently at the top of the table with 15 league games remaining in the Saudi Pro League. After their loss to Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr has been unbeaten in seven games, including six consecutive victories where they scored 27 goals. Luis Castro's men are in a buoyant mood as they enter Thursday's contest after thumping Inter Miami 6-0 in their most recent game last week. Al Nassr vs Al Hilal Predicted Lineups Al Hilal predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Bono; Al Shahrani, Al Dawsari, Koulibaly, Lodi; Milinkovic-Savic, Neves; Michael, Al-Hamdan, Malcom; Mitrovic Al Nassr predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Abdullah; Boushal, Alamri, Laporte, Telles; Al Sulaiheem, Brozovic; Talisca, Otavio, Mane; Ronaldo Al Nassr vs Al Hilal Team News Al Hilal has received a significant boost as they prepare to play against Al Nassr. The team will welcome back Yassine Bounou, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Kharim Diaw, all of whom have returned from international duty. Salman Al-Faraj is also available for selection, but there is a possibility that he might be excluded from the team as the Saudi Arabian FA is currently investigating him for leaving the national camp without permission. Luis Castro, the Al Hilal coach, should have all his players available for selection. However, there are doubts about Sultan Al-Ghannam's availability as he is facing a similar fate to Salman Al-Faraj. On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo has completely recovered and will be playing for his side. Senegalese superstar Sadio Mane is also back from international duty and will be ready for selection. (With inputs from agencies)

Ronaldo's Al Nassr vs Al Hilal: Check predicted lineup and team news for Riyadh Season Cup 2024 final match

Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr's manager Luis Castro has confirmed that Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo won't be taking part in their Riyadh Season Cup game against Lionel Messi starrer Inter Miami. Castro's comments come on the eve of the game that could have been between football's two biggest stars. The game is a midseason friendly for Saudi club Al Nassr and a pre-season game for Major League Soccer's (MLS) Inter Miami.

"We will not see [Messi vs Ronaldo], Ronaldo is in the final part of his recovery to join the group. We hope that in the next few days he can start working with the team. He will be absent from the game," said Castro as quoted by football news outlet GOAL.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/england-spinner-jack-leach-doubtful-for-second-test-against-indian-with-knee-injury-685540">England spinner Jack Leach doubtful for second Test against India with knee injury</a>

Ronaldo isn't playing as he got injured ahead of Al Nassr's China's tour and is still recovering from the injury. Ronaldo had issued a statement at the time of injury and had said: "I feel sad. I know you are sad too, especially the people who love Cristiano, but we have to see this in a good way. We have not cancelled the game, we want to push for the game and be back here. We will be back. I want to play for you. Don't be sad because I am sad, and I hope you understand the circumstances of a football player."

Talking about the league standings, Al Nassr is currently second in the Saudi Pro League with 46 points from 19 games. Al-Hilal is at the top of the league with 53 points. As for Inter Miami, they ended 2023 MLS season on not a bright note. They have already been beaten by Al-Hilal 4-3 in the Riyadh Season Cup earlier in build up to their 2024 season already and will be looking to do better against Ronaldo-less Al Nassr on Thursday (Feb 1).

Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr's manager Luis Castro has confirmed that Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo won't be taking part in their Riyadh Season Cup game against Lionel Messi starrer Inter Miami.

Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr's manager Luis Castro has confirmed that Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo won't be taking part in their Riyadh Season Cup game against Lionel Messi starrer Inter Miami. Castro's comments come on the eve of the game that could have been between football's two biggest stars. The game is a midseason friendly for Saudi club Al Nassr and a pre-season game for Major League Soccer's (MLS) Inter Miami. "We will not see [Messi vs Ronaldo], Ronaldo is in the final part of his recovery to join the group. We hope that in the next few days he can start working with the team. He will be absent from the game," said Castro as quoted by football news outlet GOAL. Also Read: England spinner Jack Leach doubtful for second Test against India with knee injury Ronaldo isn't playing as he got injured ahead of Al Nassr's China's tour and is still recovering from the injury. Ronaldo had issued a statement at the time of injury and had said: "I feel sad. I know you are sad too, especially the people who love Cristiano, but we have to see this in a good way. We have not cancelled the game, we want to push for the game and be back here. We will be back. I want to play for you. Don't be sad because I am sad, and I hope you understand the circumstances of a football player." Talking about the league standings, Al Nassr is currently second in the Saudi Pro League with 46 points from 19 games. Al-Hilal is at the top of the league with 53 points. As for Inter Miami, they ended 2023 MLS season on not a bright note. They have already been beaten by Al-Hilal 4-3 in the Riyadh Season Cup earlier in build up to their 2024 season already and will be looking to do better against Ronaldo-less Al Nassr on Thursday (Feb 1).

Cristiano Ronaldo out of club friendly game against Inter Miami, confirms Al Nassr manager Luis Castro

It appears that the highly-anticipated Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo faceoff may have been delayed after the Portuguese star developed an unspecified "health issue", leading to the postponement of his club's trip to China during the mid-season break.&nbsp;

The Saudi club was scheduled to play two friendly matches in China&nbsp;against Shanghai Shenhua and Zhejiang FC starting Wednesday (Jan 24). However, the main selling&nbsp;point was Ronaldo's eventual meeting with&nbsp;Messi's Inter Miami, back home, in the Kingdom&nbsp;Arena in the Riyadh Cup, post the culmination of the China Cup.

The two heavyweights of the sport continue to attract eyeballs despite last sharing the European stage in La Liga in 2018 before Ronaldo went to Italy to play for Juventus.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, during a press conference, Ronaldo informed about the decision and apologised to the Chinese fans.&nbsp;

"For me, today is a sad day. In football, some things you cannot control, and as you know I've played 23 years in football," said Ronaldo, adding: "Unfortunately, I have some problems."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-last-messi-vs-ronaldo-face-off-669020">Watch |&nbsp;The last Messi vs Ronaldo face-off?</a>

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Ronaldo made it clear that his club was not cancelling the games and that he will be back soon.&nbsp;

"I'm coming to China since 2003, 2004, so I feel (at) home here, I feel this is my second home, not only because the welcome of the Chinese people but the culture that you have for me," Ronaldo said.

"I love this country, I love to be here, I love to be with you guys and I want to play for you. We've not cancelled the (games). We want to be back here to your country."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/so-called-battle-messi-on-rivalry-with-ronaldo-reveals-he-stopped-caring-about-ballon-dor-long-ago-653984">Also read |&nbsp;'So-called battle' - Messi speaks on rivalry with Ronaldo, says he stopped caring about Ballon d'Or 'long ago'</a>

<h2>Fans hope for miracle</h2>

A hashtag about Ronaldo's apology quickly became one of the trending topics on Chinese social media site Weibo and as of last update, it had amassed more than 19&nbsp; million views.&nbsp;

Both matches were highly anticipated in the Asian country as the tickets were sold out, mere hours after going on sale, earlier this month. While both matches stand cancelled, fans are hoping for a miracle that Ronaldo recovers in nine days time to face Messi.&nbsp;

Messi and Ronaldo have faced off 35 times between matches for club and country with the former's team winning 16 and the Portuguese emerging victorious in 10. Nine occasions have seen the two men play draws.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

It appears that the highly-anticipated Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo faceoff may have been delayed after the Portuguese star developed an unspecified "health issue", leading to the postponement of his club's trip to China during the mid-season break.

It appears that the highly-anticipated Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo faceoff may have been delayed after the Portuguese star developed an unspecified "health issue", leading to the postponement of his club's trip to China during the mid-season break. The Saudi club was scheduled to play two friendly matches in China against Shanghai Shenhua and Zhejiang FC starting Wednesday (Jan 24). However, the main selling point was Ronaldo's eventual meeting with Messi's Inter Miami, back home, in the Kingdom Arena in the Riyadh Cup, post the culmination of the China Cup. The two heavyweights of the sport continue to attract eyeballs despite last sharing the European stage in La Liga in 2018 before Ronaldo went to Italy to play for Juventus. On Tuesday, during a press conference, Ronaldo informed about the decision and apologised to the Chinese fans. "For me, today is a sad day. In football, some things you cannot control, and as you know I've played 23 years in football," said Ronaldo, adding: "Unfortunately, I have some problems." Watch | The last Messi vs Ronaldo face-off? × Ronaldo made it clear that his club was not cancelling the games and that he will be back soon. "I'm coming to China since 2003, 2004, so I feel (at) home here, I feel this is my second home, not only because the welcome of the Chinese people but the culture that you have for me," Ronaldo said. "I love this country, I love to be here, I love to be with you guys and I want to play for you. We've not cancelled the (games). We want to be back here to your country." Also read | 'So-called battle' - Messi speaks on rivalry with Ronaldo, says he stopped caring about Ballon d'Or 'long ago' Fans hope for miracle A hashtag about Ronaldo's apology quickly became one of the trending topics on Chinese social media site Weibo and as of last update, it had amassed more than 19 million views. Both matches were highly anticipated in the Asian country as the tickets were sold out, mere hours after going on sale, earlier this month. While both matches stand cancelled, fans are hoping for a miracle that Ronaldo recovers in nine days time to face Messi. Messi and Ronaldo have faced off 35 times between matches for club and country with the former's team winning 16 and the Portuguese emerging victorious in 10. Nine occasions have seen the two men play draws. (With inputs from agencies)

No Ronaldo vs Messi faceoff? CR7's health issues delay Al-Nassr's friendlies

Saudi football club Al Nassr's Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was subjected to chants of Argentina superstar Lionel Messi after losing in Riyadh derby on December 1. Ronaldo did everything including a goal that was rejected due to off side but couldn't prevent the 0-3 loss against Al Hilal.

The fans at King Fahd International Stadium tried getting an aggressive response from Ronaldo by chanting Messi's name but the Portugal footballer smiled and waved as he walked back. Have a look at the video below:

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Cristiano Ronaldo blowing kisses to Al-Hilal fans chanting ‘Messi’ at half-time 😘 
 
(via <a href="https://twitter.com/SPL_EN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SPL_EN</a>) <a href="https://t.co/cSDGsoKxF1">pic.twitter.com/cSDGsoKxF1</a>
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1730690316603187537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Al Hilal moved to 1-0 after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's goal in 64th minute before Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice in injury time to take the team goal tally to three. With the loss, the gap between table-toppers Al Hilal and second-placed Al Nassr has stretched to seven points after 15 games each.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-leaves-door-open-for-2026-fifa-world-cup-intends-to-defend-copa-america-title-in-2024-665321">Lionel Messi leaves door open for 2026 FIFA World Cup; intends to defend Copa America title in 2024</a>

Al Nassr coach Luis Castro, however, showered praises on his best player despite the loss and said that club is lucky to have Ronaldo.

"Cristiano is an example for everyone, an example that Al Nassr are lucky to have," Castro said. "He is an example of rigor, ambition and discipline."

"Lots of people want to be like Cristiano Ronaldo but few want to work like Cristiano Ronaldo. If you want something you have to give everything to get it," he added.

This was Al Nassr's third loss in 15 games and they have 34 points currently with 11 wins and one draw. Al Hilal, on the other hand, recorded their 13th win of the season and have 41 points in total including from two drawn games.

Talking about Ronaldo's performance in the season so far, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has scored 15 goals in 15 games (including against Al Hilal) and has seven assists to his name. He has been the cornerstone of the club and the league since his debut in Saudi in 2022-23 season where he scored 14 goals in 16 games.

Saudi football club Al Nassr's Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was subjected to chants of Argentina superstar Lionel Messi after losing in Riyadh derby on December 1.

Saudi football club Al Nassr's Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was subjected to chants of Argentina superstar Lionel Messi after losing in Riyadh derby on December 1. Ronaldo did everything including a goal that was rejected due to off side but couldn't prevent the 0-3 loss against Al Hilal. The fans at King Fahd International Stadium tried getting an aggressive response from Ronaldo by chanting Messi's name but the Portugal footballer smiled and waved as he walked back. Have a look at the video below: Cristiano Ronaldo blowing kisses to Al-Hilal fans chanting ‘Messi’ at half-time 😘 (via @SPL_EN) pic.twitter.com/cSDGsoKxF1 — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 1, 2023 × Al Hilal moved to 1-0 after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's goal in 64th minute before Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice in injury time to take the team goal tally to three. With the loss, the gap between table-toppers Al Hilal and second-placed Al Nassr has stretched to seven points after 15 games each. Also Read: Lionel Messi leaves door open for 2026 FIFA World Cup; intends to defend Copa America title in 2024 Al Nassr coach Luis Castro, however, showered praises on his best player despite the loss and said that club is lucky to have Ronaldo. "Cristiano is an example for everyone, an example that Al Nassr are lucky to have," Castro said. "He is an example of rigor, ambition and discipline." "Lots of people want to be like Cristiano Ronaldo but few want to work like Cristiano Ronaldo. If you want something you have to give everything to get it," he added. This was Al Nassr's third loss in 15 games and they have 34 points currently with 11 wins and one draw. Al Hilal, on the other hand, recorded their 13th win of the season and have 41 points in total including from two drawn games. Talking about Ronaldo's performance in the season so far, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has scored 15 goals in 15 games (including against Al Hilal) and has seven assists to his name. He has been the cornerstone of the club and the league since his debut in Saudi in 2022-23 season where he scored 14 goals in 16 games.

WATCH | Fans taunt Ronaldo with Messi chants after Al Nassr's loss vs Al Hilal

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr lost 3-0 to table-toppers Al-Hilal in the Riyadh derby at the King Fahd International Stadium on Friday to fall further behind their bitter rivals at the top the Saudi Pro League standings. The Portuguese striker left the field with rival fans taunting the five-times Ballon D'Or winner by chanting the name of his great rival and Argentinian World Cup winner, Lionel Messi at the end of the game.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic put the league leaders in front before Aleksandar Mitrovic's late double sealed a win that takes unbeaten Al-Hilal seven points clear of Al-Nassr at the summit 15 games into the season.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba/news-boston-celtics-claw-out-impressive-win-against-philadelphia-76ers-despite-jayson-tatums-ejection-665350">Boston Celtics claw out impressive win against Philadelphia 76ers despite Jayson Tatum's ejection</a>

After a goalless first half, Saud Abdulhamid delivered a 64th-minute cross from the right for former Lazio midfielder Milinkovic-Savic to head in the opener, beating Nawaf Al-Aqidi low and to his right.

Mitrovic then headed in the second with a minute remaining when he nodded in Salem Al Dawsari's corner. Three minutes later, the Serbian forward completed the scoring by cutting inside Aymeric Laporte to strike through Al-Aqidi's legs and net his 13th of the season to pull to within two goals of Ronaldo on the top scorers' chart.

The game ended on a sour note for Al-Hilal as defender Ali Al-Bulayhi was sent off in injury time by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan, as Jorge Jesus' side notched up their 13th win in 15 league games.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr lost 3-0 to table-toppers Al-Hilal in the Riyadh derby at the King Fahd International Stadium on Friday to fall further behind their bitter rivals at the top the Saudi Pro League standings.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr lost 3-0 to table-toppers Al-Hilal in the Riyadh derby at the King Fahd International Stadium on Friday to fall further behind their bitter rivals at the top the Saudi Pro League standings. The Portuguese striker left the field with rival fans taunting the five-times Ballon D'Or winner by chanting the name of his great rival and Argentinian World Cup winner, Lionel Messi at the end of the game. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic put the league leaders in front before Aleksandar Mitrovic's late double sealed a win that takes unbeaten Al-Hilal seven points clear of Al-Nassr at the summit 15 games into the season. Also Read: Boston Celtics claw out impressive win against Philadelphia 76ers despite Jayson Tatum's ejection After a goalless first half, Saud Abdulhamid delivered a 64th-minute cross from the right for former Lazio midfielder Milinkovic-Savic to head in the opener, beating Nawaf Al-Aqidi low and to his right. Mitrovic then headed in the second with a minute remaining when he nodded in Salem Al Dawsari's corner. Three minutes later, the Serbian forward completed the scoring by cutting inside Aymeric Laporte to strike through Al-Aqidi's legs and net his 13th of the season to pull to within two goals of Ronaldo on the top scorers' chart. The game ended on a sour note for Al-Hilal as defender Ali Al-Bulayhi was sent off in injury time by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan, as Jorge Jesus' side notched up their 13th win in 15 league games.

Al-Hilal defeat Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in Riyadh derby to remain to top

Cristiano Ronaldo won hearts with his gesture during his side Al Nassr's clash versus&nbsp;Iranian side Persepolis in the AFC Champions League clash. The star striker went down in the second minute of the clash under a challenge from Persepolis defender Soroush Rafiei. He soon wagged his finger after being awarded a penalty kick and came in talks with the referee to try and overturn his decision.

Ronaldo and the Chinese referee Ma Ning had a quick chat. He was seen telling the referee that it was not a spot-kick and was heard saying 'no pen' (no penalty). Soon, the VAR check followed and the decision was ultimately overturned. His gesture was appreciated by his opposition players as many came towards him to laud his act.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl/news-lamar-jacksons-savage-response-to-wide-receiver-zay-flowers%E2%80%99s-touchdown-celebration-goes-viral---watch-663361">Lamar Jackson's SAVAGE response to wide receiver Zay Flowers’s touchdown celebration goes viral - Watch</a>

Here is the video, on X (formerly Twitter) of Ronaldo asking referee to overturn penalty call:

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Ronaldo is very funny ngl, why all the stress when the VAR will still intervene and overturn the initial penalty given. Blud is now playing the “humble card” chat right there 🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/tV7iUOZavN">pic.twitter.com/tV7iUOZavN</a>
— Yamal_Ball ⛹🏻‍♂️ (@LYamal_Ball) <a href="https://twitter.com/LYamal_Ball/status/1729244246643745106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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While many did not read much into Ronaldo's act,&nbsp;as VAR would have eventually ruled out the penalty call, a section of fans has hailed the 38-year-old for his honesty on the social media platform X.&nbsp;

Talking about the match, Al Nassr&nbsp;were already into the knockouts, and Persepolis played out a goalless draw. The Saudi Arabian side played the majority of the game with 10 players. In the 17th minute,&nbsp;Ali Lajami was given a straight red card for a shin-raking challenge whereas Ronaldo also walked out with a neck injury during the fag moments of the encounter. The veteran doesn't have much time to recover as his side will be up against Al Hilal on Friday in a top-of-the-table league face-off.&nbsp;

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad are two points clear at the top of Group C following an impressive&nbsp;2-1 win at Uzbekistan’s AGMK FC.

Cristiano Ronaldo won hearts with his gesture during his side Al Nassr's clash versus Iranian side Persepolis in the AFC Champions League clash. The star striker went down in the second minute of the clash under a challenge from Persepolis defender Soroush Rafiei.

Cristiano Ronaldo won hearts with his gesture during his side Al Nassr's clash versus Iranian side Persepolis in the AFC Champions League clash. The star striker went down in the second minute of the clash under a challenge from Persepolis defender Soroush Rafiei. He soon wagged his finger after being awarded a penalty kick and came in talks with the referee to try and overturn his decision. Ronaldo and the Chinese referee Ma Ning had a quick chat. He was seen telling the referee that it was not a spot-kick and was heard saying 'no pen' (no penalty). Soon, the VAR check followed and the decision was ultimately overturned. His gesture was appreciated by his opposition players as many came towards him to laud his act. Also read: Lamar Jackson's SAVAGE response to wide receiver Zay Flowers’s touchdown celebration goes viral - Watch Here is the video, on X (formerly Twitter) of Ronaldo asking referee to overturn penalty call: Ronaldo is very funny ngl, why all the stress when the VAR will still intervene and overturn the initial penalty given. Blud is now playing the “humble card” chat right there 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/tV7iUOZavN — Yamal_Ball ⛹🏻‍♂️ (@LYamal_Ball) November 27, 2023 × While many did not read much into Ronaldo's act, as VAR would have eventually ruled out the penalty call, a section of fans has hailed the 38-year-old for his honesty on the social media platform X. Talking about the match, Al Nassr were already into the knockouts, and Persepolis played out a goalless draw. The Saudi Arabian side played the majority of the game with 10 players. In the 17th minute, Ali Lajami was given a straight red card for a shin-raking challenge whereas Ronaldo also walked out with a neck injury during the fag moments of the encounter. The veteran doesn't have much time to recover as his side will be up against Al Hilal on Friday in a top-of-the-table league face-off. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad are two points clear at the top of Group C following an impressive 2-1 win at Uzbekistan’s AGMK FC.

AFC CL: Ronaldo convinces referee to overturn penalty he won during Al Nassr-Persepolis tie - Watch

Portugal and Saudi football club Al Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo scored a fantastic goal with a spectacular lob in his team's 3-0 win at home against Al Okhdood. With their 11th win in 14 games, Al Nassr are now just a point behind table-toppers Al-Hilal in Saudi Pro League.

Ronaldo scored two goals in total in a span of three minutes as the team dominated the game throughout 90 minutes. Ronaldo's first goal came in 77th minute but the second in the 80th minute sent the fans at Al-Awwal Park Stadium into frenzy.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/gujarat-titans-skipper-hardik-pandya-set-to-be-back-with-mumbai-indians-in-blockbuster-trade-report-662630">Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya set to be back with Mumbai Indians in blockbuster trade - Report</a>

It was a long-range lob from around 35 yards which went over opposition goalkeeper Paulo Vitor and defenders as well to drop right under the crossbar. The ball came to Ronaldo after Vitor raced out of his box to stop a shot but sent it to the Portuguese star instead.

The Portugal skipper then made a touch before scoring a brilliant goal. Have a look at the video below:

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Unforgettable moment 🎬🔥 <a href="https://t.co/vgcxs8JiVD">pic.twitter.com/vgcxs8JiVD</a>
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlNassrFC_EN/status/1728184213453873434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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This was Ronaldo's 13th appearance in the season for his team and he took his goal tally to 15 with the two goals he scored.&nbsp;

As for the match, Al Nassr were given the lead by Sami Al-Naji in 13th minute and the score-line stayed the same till Ronaldo showed his magic.

Al-Hilal, who are at the top with 35 points, have played one game less than Al Nassr and the two sides will be facing each other in the top-of-the-table clash next week.

Al Okhdood, the newly promoted team in the Saudi Pro League, meanwhile have work cut out for them in the upcoming games. Out of 14 games played, Al Okhdood have managed just three wins to go with one draw. The loss against Al Nassr was their 10th of the season. They are currently at 16th place among 18 teams with just 10 points to their name.

Portugal and Saudi football club Al Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo scored a fantastic goal with a spectacular lob in his team's 3-0 win at home against Al Okhdood.

Portugal and Saudi football club Al Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo scored a fantastic goal with a spectacular lob in his team's 3-0 win at home against Al Okhdood. With their 11th win in 14 games, Al Nassr are now just a point behind table-toppers Al-Hilal in Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo scored two goals in total in a span of three minutes as the team dominated the game throughout 90 minutes. Ronaldo's first goal came in 77th minute but the second in the 80th minute sent the fans at Al-Awwal Park Stadium into frenzy. Also Read: Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya set to be back with Mumbai Indians in blockbuster trade - Report It was a long-range lob from around 35 yards which went over opposition goalkeeper Paulo Vitor and defenders as well to drop right under the crossbar. The ball came to Ronaldo after Vitor raced out of his box to stop a shot but sent it to the Portuguese star instead. The Portugal skipper then made a touch before scoring a brilliant goal. Have a look at the video below: Unforgettable moment 🎬🔥 pic.twitter.com/vgcxs8JiVD — AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 24, 2023 × This was Ronaldo's 13th appearance in the season for his team and he took his goal tally to 15 with the two goals he scored. As for the match, Al Nassr were given the lead by Sami Al-Naji in 13th minute and the score-line stayed the same till Ronaldo showed his magic. Al-Hilal, who are at the top with 35 points, have played one game less than Al Nassr and the two sides will be facing each other in the top-of-the-table clash next week. Al Okhdood, the newly promoted team in the Saudi Pro League, meanwhile have work cut out for them in the upcoming games. Out of 14 games played, Al Okhdood have managed just three wins to go with one draw. The loss against Al Nassr was their 10th of the season. They are currently at 16th place among 18 teams with just 10 points to their name.

WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo's spectacular goal in Saudi Pro League sends Al Nassr fans in frenzy

Argentina captain Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or award for the eighth time, most by any, during the recently held ceremony at the&nbsp;Chatelet Theatre in Paris on Monday (Nov 1). He went past France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway and Manchester City's young star Erling Halaand to win the top prize in Paris. With this, Messi has a clear lead in terms of winning the prestigious award for most times by any player. Cristiano Ronaldo, his arch-rival, is in the second spot having won the award on five occasions. After the win, Messi opened up on his fierce rivalry with Ronaldo and even made a big statement on the Ballon d'Or award in general.&nbsp;

<h2>Messi: It was only a so-called 'battle'</h2>

Speaking on his rivalry with Portugal captain Ronaldo -- who is currently part of the Riyadh-based club Al-Nassr -- Messi told AS in an interview, "It was only a so-called “battle”. In a sporting sense, it was really good, we fed off each other because we are very competitive. He always wanted to beat everyone and win everything. It was a very nice period for us and for people who like football in general. I think what we did for so long was very admirable."

The legendary footballer, who led Argentina to a World Cup title last year in the mega event in Qatar, further added that it is much easier to reach the top but tough to remain at that position.&nbsp;"The easy thing is to get there, but the difficult thing is to stay. We stayed at the top for practically 10-15 years. That was very difficult to sustain. It was incredible and I have fond memories, also for everyone who enjoys football,” Messi opined.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-lionel-messi-carry-on-till-2026-fifa-wc-argentina-legend-reacts-after-eighth-ballon-dor-award-653279">Will Lionel Messi carry on till 2026 FIFA WC? Argentina legend reacts after eighth Ballon d'Or award</a>

On the Ballon d'Or award, the 36-year-old Messi said, "The truth is that I stopped thinking about the Ballon d’Or a long time ago. I said before that it was never a priority for me, and it’s much less of one now after having achieved everything in my career and at this stage of my life." He added, "I think this will be my last Ballon d’Or and I am happy to have achieved everything I achieved and to be the player who has eight Ballons d’Or. I am happy."

Messi is currently plying his trade at the MLS club Inter Miami after not extending his contract at the French club Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) early this year. He ended his first season at his new club with 11 goals in 13 appearances and led them to the&nbsp;Leagues Cup championship.&nbsp;

Argentina captain Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or award for the eighth time, most by any, during the recently held ceremony at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris on Monday (Nov 1).

Argentina captain Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or award for the eighth time, most by any, during the recently held ceremony at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris on Monday (Nov 1). He went past France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway and Manchester City's young star Erling Halaand to win the top prize in Paris. With this, Messi has a clear lead in terms of winning the prestigious award for most times by any player. Cristiano Ronaldo, his arch-rival, is in the second spot having won the award on five occasions. After the win, Messi opened up on his fierce rivalry with Ronaldo and even made a big statement on the Ballon d'Or award in general. Messi: It was only a so-called 'battle' Speaking on his rivalry with Portugal captain Ronaldo -- who is currently part of the Riyadh-based club Al-Nassr -- Messi told AS in an interview, "It was only a so-called “battle”. In a sporting sense, it was really good, we fed off each other because we are very competitive. He always wanted to beat everyone and win everything. It was a very nice period for us and for people who like football in general. I think what we did for so long was very admirable." The legendary footballer, who led Argentina to a World Cup title last year in the mega event in Qatar, further added that it is much easier to reach the top but tough to remain at that position. "The easy thing is to get there, but the difficult thing is to stay. We stayed at the top for practically 10-15 years. That was very difficult to sustain. It was incredible and I have fond memories, also for everyone who enjoys football,” Messi opined. Also read: Will Lionel Messi carry on till 2026 FIFA WC? Argentina legend reacts after eighth Ballon d'Or award On the Ballon d'Or award, the 36-year-old Messi said, "The truth is that I stopped thinking about the Ballon d’Or a long time ago. I said before that it was never a priority for me, and it’s much less of one now after having achieved everything in my career and at this stage of my life." He added, "I think this will be my last Ballon d’Or and I am happy to have achieved everything I achieved and to be the player who has eight Ballons d’Or. I am happy." Messi is currently plying his trade at the MLS club Inter Miami after not extending his contract at the French club Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) early this year. He ended his first season at his new club with 11 goals in 13 appearances and led them to the Leagues Cup championship.

'So-called battle' - Messi speaks on rivalry with Ronaldo, says he stopped caring about Ballon d'Or 'long ago'

Cristiano Ronaldo was an incensed man after spectators at the Al-Awwal Park&nbsp;Stadium chanted Lionel Messi's name during Al-Nassr's clash against Al-Ettifaq in the King Cup of Champions on Tuesday (Oct 31).&nbsp;

The match took place a day after Messi won an incredible eighth Ballon d'Or, following success with Argentina in the World Cup. During the match, Ronaldo was on the near-side taking a throw-in when the crowd started chanting 'Messi! Messi!'.

Unhappy and visibly frustrated at the chants, Ronaldo put his finger to his mouth multiple times, suggesting the crowd shut up.&nbsp;After shushing the crowd didn't work, the 38-year-old waved his hand downwards as if telling the crowd to quiet down before returning to play.&nbsp;

Ronaldo had a patchy game but his side managed to progress to the quarterfinals, courtesy of a goal from Sadio Mane in the 107th minute of the game. Substitute Ayman Yahya drilled a low cross into the box which pierced through everyone and met the former Liverpool man who calmly slotted it to the back of the net.&nbsp;

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Al-Ettifaq fans started a "Messi, Messi" chant and this was Cristiano Ronaldo's reaction.<a href="https://t.co/tlCNiWLOje">pic.twitter.com/tlCNiWLOje</a>
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyNemer/status/1719399683452248247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Ronaldo's controversial comment&nbsp;</h2>

Prior to the match, Ronaldo had caused&nbsp;social media uproar after he interacted with a post that suggested Messi should not have won more than five Ballons d'Or.&nbsp;

After&nbsp;Diario AS&nbsp;journalist Tomas Roncero posted a video on his Instagram account, playing down Messi's achievement, Ronaldo left a comment.&nbsp;

"Hello friends. What we knew has happened. They were going to give another Ballon d’Or to Messi. He went to retire at Miami, but he was already looking retired at PSG to prepare for the World Cup. He won the World Cup, yes, well, but with 6 penalties in their favour," said&nbsp;Roncero in the video message.&nbsp;

"The World Cup was 10 months ago, we’re in November. Messi has eight Ballon d’Ors well, he should have five, he has the Ballon d’Ors of [Andres] Iniesta and Xavi, [Robert] Lewandowski who won six trophies in one season and Haaland who was the top scorer of everything," he added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ronaldo-envious-of-messi-cr7-comments-on-post-critical-of-argentines-8th-ballon-dor-653582">Also read |&nbsp;Ronaldo envious of Messi? CR7 comments on post critical of Argentine's 8th Ballon d'Or</a>

Ronaldo liked the controversial post and in a surprising move, left a comment with four laughing face emojis. His action left fans confused with some arguing that the Portuguese was unhappy with Messi winning another Ballon d'Or while others suggested that he was laughing at the journalist's lame reasoning.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Cristiano Ronaldo was an incensed man after spectators at the Al-Awwal Park Stadium chanted Lionel Messi's name during Al-Nassr's clash against Al-Ettifaq in the King Cup of Champions on Tuesday (Oct 31).

Cristiano Ronaldo was an incensed man after spectators at the Al-Awwal Park Stadium chanted Lionel Messi's name during Al-Nassr's clash against Al-Ettifaq in the King Cup of Champions on Tuesday (Oct 31). The match took place a day after Messi won an incredible eighth Ballon d'Or, following success with Argentina in the World Cup. During the match, Ronaldo was on the near-side taking a throw-in when the crowd started chanting 'Messi! Messi!'. Unhappy and visibly frustrated at the chants, Ronaldo put his finger to his mouth multiple times, suggesting the crowd shut up. After shushing the crowd didn't work, the 38-year-old waved his hand downwards as if telling the crowd to quiet down before returning to play. Ronaldo had a patchy game but his side managed to progress to the quarterfinals, courtesy of a goal from Sadio Mane in the 107th minute of the game. Substitute Ayman Yahya drilled a low cross into the box which pierced through everyone and met the former Liverpool man who calmly slotted it to the back of the net. Al-Ettifaq fans started a "Messi, Messi" chant and this was Cristiano Ronaldo's reaction.pic.twitter.com/tlCNiWLOje — Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) October 31, 2023 × Ronaldo's controversial comment Prior to the match, Ronaldo had caused social media uproar after he interacted with a post that suggested Messi should not have won more than five Ballons d'Or. After Diario AS journalist Tomas Roncero posted a video on his Instagram account, playing down Messi's achievement, Ronaldo left a comment. "Hello friends. What we knew has happened. They were going to give another Ballon d’Or to Messi. He went to retire at Miami, but he was already looking retired at PSG to prepare for the World Cup. He won the World Cup, yes, well, but with 6 penalties in their favour," said Roncero in the video message. "The World Cup was 10 months ago, we’re in November. Messi has eight Ballon d’Ors well, he should have five, he has the Ballon d’Ors of [Andres] Iniesta and Xavi, [Robert] Lewandowski who won six trophies in one season and Haaland who was the top scorer of everything," he added. Also read | Ronaldo envious of Messi? CR7 comments on post critical of Argentine's 8th Ballon d'Or Ronaldo liked the controversial post and in a surprising move, left a comment with four laughing face emojis. His action left fans confused with some arguing that the Portuguese was unhappy with Messi winning another Ballon d'Or while others suggested that he was laughing at the journalist's lame reasoning. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | Angry Ronaldo shushes crowd after it chants 'Messi, Messi'

On Monday (Oct 30), Argentina captain and Inter Miami's Lionel Messi scripted history by claiming his eighth Ballon d'Or award. He edged past&nbsp;Norway's UEFA Player of the Year and treble winner Erling Haaland of Manchester City to win the prestigious award for the eighth time, most ever by a significant margin, and extended&nbsp;his lead over arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo (5) by three.

Messi has now finished among the top three a record 14 times overall, finishing runner-up on five instances. After the award, he was asked in the media interaction whether he views himself as the best ever in history. To this, the 36-year-old said, "Well, as always, I don't know if I'm the best, if I am or not, and it's not something that I ask myself or that I'm interested in. But the fact that maybe in the future it will be said that I can be among the best, as they say, is a gift for me. It's something very special. Football is played by everyone, everywhere. From a very young age, every kid wants to be a footballer, to be a professional, and for them to tell me that I can be among the best, for me, it is an honour, a great pride, and that’s it."

<h2>'I think I deserve to be able to say goodbye to those people....'</h2>

After Messi's extension at the Paris-Saint Germain was ruled out early this&nbsp;year, many believed he could return to his home club Barcelona, which gave a massive boost to his career in the initial years. However, it didn't happen as the legendary footballer moved to the MLS club Inter Miami in mid-July. Asked if he wants to make a return to Bara, Messi revealed, "I don't know. I really don't know. Obviously, I would love to be able to say goodbye to the people in a different way, because I think there was a weird feeling when I left, and I think it's not good with everything that we shared and lived, along with everything that they gave me."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-wins-ballon-dor-for-eighth-time-653235">Messi wins eighth Ballon d'Or as Bonmati claims women's award</a>

He added, "I told the club that we shouldn’t finish in the way we have finished. I think I deserve to be able to say goodbye to those people that we have shared so much joy and sadness throughout my career at Barcelona, in my home. I love the club, I love the people of Barcelona and well, so be it. I'm delighted I could be there, obviously.”

Messi ended with a whopping 672 goals for the Spanish club in 778 games from 2004-05 to 2020-21.

Messi faced a tough fight from Haaland and Kylian Mbappe but eventually got hold of the prestigious award once again in his illustrious career. Last year, he helped Argentina lift the FIFA World Cup, in Qatar&nbsp;in a thrilling final versus France and ended up scoring seven goals in total. In addition, he&nbsp;was named the tournament's best player.

The superstar&nbsp;also dedicated the award to Argentina and world football's&nbsp;all-time great Diego Maradona,&nbsp;who would have celebrated his 63rd birthday on Monday.

Meanwhile, Spain's World Cup-winning star Aitana Bonmati took the women's prize&nbsp;on the stage of the Chatelet Theatre in Paris.

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On Monday (Oct 30), Argentina captain and Inter Miami's Lionel Messi scripted history by claiming his eighth Ballon d'Or award. He edged past Norway's UEFA Player of the Year and treble winner Erling Haaland of Manchester City to win the prestigious award for the eighth time, most ever by a significant margin, and extended his lead over arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo (5) by three.

On Monday (Oct 30), Argentina captain and Inter Miami's Lionel Messi scripted history by claiming his eighth Ballon d'Or award. He edged past Norway's UEFA Player of the Year and treble winner Erling Haaland of Manchester City to win the prestigious award for the eighth time, most ever by a significant margin, and extended his lead over arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo (5) by three. Messi has now finished among the top three a record 14 times overall, finishing runner-up on five instances. After the award, he was asked in the media interaction whether he views himself as the best ever in history. To this, the 36-year-old said, "Well, as always, I don't know if I'm the best, if I am or not, and it's not something that I ask myself or that I'm interested in. But the fact that maybe in the future it will be said that I can be among the best, as they say, is a gift for me. It's something very special. Football is played by everyone, everywhere. From a very young age, every kid wants to be a footballer, to be a professional, and for them to tell me that I can be among the best, for me, it is an honour, a great pride, and that’s it." 'I think I deserve to be able to say goodbye to those people....' After Messi's extension at the Paris-Saint Germain was ruled out early this year, many believed he could return to his home club Barcelona, which gave a massive boost to his career in the initial years. However, it didn't happen as the legendary footballer moved to the MLS club Inter Miami in mid-July. Asked if he wants to make a return to Bara, Messi revealed, "I don't know. I really don't know. Obviously, I would love to be able to say goodbye to the people in a different way, because I think there was a weird feeling when I left, and I think it's not good with everything that we shared and lived, along with everything that they gave me." Also read: Messi wins eighth Ballon d'Or as Bonmati claims women's award He added, "I told the club that we shouldn’t finish in the way we have finished. I think I deserve to be able to say goodbye to those people that we have shared so much joy and sadness throughout my career at Barcelona, in my home. I love the club, I love the people of Barcelona and well, so be it. I'm delighted I could be there, obviously.” Messi ended with a whopping 672 goals for the Spanish club in 778 games from 2004-05 to 2020-21. Messi faced a tough fight from Haaland and Kylian Mbappe but eventually got hold of the prestigious award once again in his illustrious career. Last year, he helped Argentina lift the FIFA World Cup, in Qatar in a thrilling final versus France and ended up scoring seven goals in total. In addition, he was named the tournament's best player. The superstar also dedicated the award to Argentina and world football's all-time great Diego Maradona, who would have celebrated his 63rd birthday on Monday. Meanwhile, Spain's World Cup-winning star Aitana Bonmati took the women's prize on the stage of the Chatelet Theatre in Paris. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Lionel Messi on whether he views himself as best in history, possible Barcelona return after 8th Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo has caused a social media uproar after he commented on a post that suggested Lionel Messi should not have won more than five Ballons d'Or.&nbsp;

Lionel Messi scripted another glowing chapter in his book of extraordinary achievements on Monday (Oct 30) evening by taking home his eighth Ballon d'Or trophy. While the contest was close between him and Erling Haaland, the Argentine emerged victorious for his World Cup performances.&nbsp;

However, the victory appears to have not gone down well with Ronaldo, who shared a long-running rivalry with Messi over the years. After&nbsp;Diario AS journalist Tomas Roncero posted a video on his Instagram account, playing down Messi's achievement, Ronaldo left a comment.&nbsp;

"Hello friends. What we knew has happened. They were going to give another Ballon d’Or to Messi. He went to retire at Miami, but he was already looking retired at PSG to prepare for the World Cup. He won the World Cup, yes, well, but with 6 penalties in their favour," said&nbsp;Roncero in the video message.&nbsp;

"The World Cup was 10 months ago, we’re in November. Messi has eight Ballon d’Ors well, he should have five, he has the Ballon d’Ors of [Andres] Iniesta and Xavi, [Robert] Lewandowski who won six trophies in one season and Haaland who was the top scorer of everything," he added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/football/ballon-dor-2023-final-top10-rankings-1698743745151">Also read |&nbsp;Ballon d'Or 2023 Final Top-10 Rankings</a>

<h2>Ronaldo's controversial move</h2>

Ronaldo liked the controversial post and in a surprising move, left a comment with four laughing face emojis. Till the last update, the comment had received more than 85,000 likes and over 17,000 comments.&nbsp;

Ronaldo's action has left fans confused with some arguing that he is unhappy with Messi winning another Ballon d'Or while others suggesting that the Portuguese was laughing at the journalist's lame reasoning.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/list-of-footballers-with-most-ballon-dor-trophies-653500">Watch |&nbsp;List of Footballers with most Ballon d'Or Trophies</a>

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Notably, Ronaldo has won five Ballons d'Or in his career but could not make it to the top 30 nominees this time around.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Messi walked away with the trophy which caps an incredible year for him. The World Cup trophy was Messi's final peak and he managed to conquer it after failing several times.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
 
&nbsp;

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Cristiano Ronaldo has caused a social media uproar after he commented on a post that suggested Lionel Messi should not have won more than five Ballons d'Or. Lionel Messi scripted another glowing chapter in his book of extraordinary achievements on Monday (Oct 30) evening by taking home his eighth Ballon d'Or trophy.

Cristiano Ronaldo has caused a social media uproar after he commented on a post that suggested Lionel Messi should not have won more than five Ballons d'Or. Lionel Messi scripted another glowing chapter in his book of extraordinary achievements on Monday (Oct 30) evening by taking home his eighth Ballon d'Or trophy. While the contest was close between him and Erling Haaland, the Argentine emerged victorious for his World Cup performances. However, the victory appears to have not gone down well with Ronaldo, who shared a long-running rivalry with Messi over the years. After Diario AS journalist Tomas Roncero posted a video on his Instagram account, playing down Messi's achievement, Ronaldo left a comment. "Hello friends. What we knew has happened. They were going to give another Ballon d’Or to Messi. He went to retire at Miami, but he was already looking retired at PSG to prepare for the World Cup. He won the World Cup, yes, well, but with 6 penalties in their favour," said Roncero in the video message. "The World Cup was 10 months ago, we’re in November. Messi has eight Ballon d’Ors well, he should have five, he has the Ballon d’Ors of [Andres] Iniesta and Xavi, [Robert] Lewandowski who won six trophies in one season and Haaland who was the top scorer of everything," he added. Also read | Ballon d'Or 2023 Final Top-10 Rankings Ronaldo's controversial move Ronaldo liked the controversial post and in a surprising move, left a comment with four laughing face emojis. Till the last update, the comment had received more than 85,000 likes and over 17,000 comments. Ronaldo's action has left fans confused with some arguing that he is unhappy with Messi winning another Ballon d'Or while others suggesting that the Portuguese was laughing at the journalist's lame reasoning. Watch | List of Footballers with most Ballon d'Or Trophies × Notably, Ronaldo has won five Ballons d'Or in his career but could not make it to the top 30 nominees this time around. Meanwhile, Messi walked away with the trophy which caps an incredible year for him. The World Cup trophy was Messi's final peak and he managed to conquer it after failing several times. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ronaldo envious of Messi? CR7 comments on post critical of Argentine's 8th Ballon d'Or

A video featuring footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Bollywood star Salman Khan has been doing the rounds of social media which seem to suggest that footballer royally ignored the actor during a boxing match in Riyadh. Trolls of Khan have been focussing on a viral video that shows Ronaldo walking in from the match with partner Georgina Rodrguez and ignoring Khan standing in their way. 
&nbsp; 
However, a new photo from the venue has emerged which shows Khan and Ronaldo sharing a laugh near the ring. Fans of the actor blasted trolls who first claimed that the soccer player ignored the superstar. 
 
Salman Khan and Cristiano Ronaldo were part of the audience for a boxing match between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

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Wow 😲🤩😍 
 
Cristiano Ronaldo With Bollywood's Biggest Super Star Salman khan ⚽ 🔥🔥💥❤<a href="https://twitter.com/BeingSalmanKhan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BeingSalmanKhan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cristiano</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SalmanKhan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SalmanKhan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tiger3?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tiger3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tiger3Trailer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tiger3Trailer</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CristianoRonaldo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CristianoRonaldo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CR7?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CR7</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShahRuhKhan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShahRuhKhan</a> <a href="https://t.co/7cvzbT2P14">pic.twitter.com/7cvzbT2P14</a>
— Dr Jain (@DrJain21) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrJain21/status/1718874721406914894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Salman Khan fans took his side as they blasted trolls. They tweeted Salman's photo with Ronaldo and wrote, "This is an answer to all the haters crying since yesterday That Ronaldo ignored Salman, They just post anything which they see on SM, got the reality check. #SalmanKhan was one of the most important guests of that night and the Organiser of that event is an admirer of Salman Khan (sic)." 
 
Another video shows Salman Khan seated alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia as they watched the boxing match between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou.

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Attitude of Salman Khan &gt;&gt;<a href="https://t.co/buXkNoWO8C">pic.twitter.com/buXkNoWO8C</a>
— ` (@Salman_Rules) <a href="https://twitter.com/Salman_Rules/status/1718540526717436084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Two Legends In One Frame <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SalmanKhan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SalmanKhan</a> And <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CristianoRonaldo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CristianoRonaldo</a> 🔥🔥 <a href="https://t.co/rahTxEc3fH">pic.twitter.com/rahTxEc3fH</a>
— ★sᴜʟᴛᴀɴ★ (@beingsultan56) <a href="https://twitter.com/beingsultan56/status/1718582893877055808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Many fans were excited to see clips of Salman and Ronaldo together. Salman Khan was spotted in the VVIP seats, with Georgina Rodr­guez and Cristiano Ronaldo seated next to him. 
 
Salman Khan will be next seen in Tiger 3 which will be hitting theatres on Diwali. The film co-stars Emraan Hashmi and Katrina Kaif.&nbsp;

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A video featuring footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Bollywood star Salman Khan has been doing the rounds of social media which seem to suggest that footballer royally ignored the actor during a boxing match in Riyadh.

A video featuring footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Bollywood star Salman Khan has been doing the rounds of social media which seem to suggest that footballer royally ignored the actor during a boxing match in Riyadh. Trolls of Khan have been focussing on a viral video that shows Ronaldo walking in from the match with partner Georgina Rodrguez and ignoring Khan standing in their way. However, a new photo from the venue has emerged which shows Khan and Ronaldo sharing a laugh near the ring. Fans of the actor blasted trolls who first claimed that the soccer player ignored the superstar. Salman Khan and Cristiano Ronaldo were part of the audience for a boxing match between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Wow 😲🤩😍 Cristiano Ronaldo With Bollywood's Biggest Super Star Salman khan ⚽ 🔥🔥💥❤@BeingSalmanKhan @Cristiano#SalmanKhan #Tiger3 #Tiger3Trailer#CristianoRonaldo #CR7 #ShahRuhKhan pic.twitter.com/7cvzbT2P14 — Dr Jain (@DrJain21) October 30, 2023 × Salman Khan fans took his side as they blasted trolls. They tweeted Salman's photo with Ronaldo and wrote, "This is an answer to all the haters crying since yesterday That Ronaldo ignored Salman, They just post anything which they see on SM, got the reality check. #SalmanKhan was one of the most important guests of that night and the Organiser of that event is an admirer of Salman Khan (sic)." Another video shows Salman Khan seated alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia as they watched the boxing match between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou. Attitude of Salman Khan >>pic.twitter.com/buXkNoWO8C — ` (@Salman_Rules) October 29, 2023 × Two Legends In One Frame #SalmanKhan And #CristianoRonaldo 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/rahTxEc3fH — ★sᴜʟᴛᴀɴ★ (@beingsultan56) October 29, 2023 × Many fans were excited to see clips of Salman and Ronaldo together. Salman Khan was spotted in the VVIP seats, with Georgina Rodrguez and Cristiano Ronaldo seated next to him. Salman Khan will be next seen in Tiger 3 which will be hitting theatres on Diwali. The film co-stars Emraan Hashmi and Katrina Kaif. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Did Cristiano Ronaldo really ignore Salman Khan during a boxing match?

Cristiano Ronaldo rolled back the years to score two stunning goals and propel his Al Nassr side to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Al Duhail of Qatar in the AFC Champions League. Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane and Anderson Talisca also scored for the Saudi side late Tuesday as they made it three wins from three in the group stages of the premier Asian club competition.

Talisca opened the scoring in Riyadh from the edge of the box in the 25th minute after being teed up by the 38-year-old Ronaldo's clever back-heeled flick as the Portuguese talisman went through his full repertoire of tricks.&nbsp; Mane turned and drilled home to add a second 11 minutes after the break and Al Nassr appeared to be cruising when Ronaldo curled home a sumptuous third from outside the box to make it 3-0 five minutes later.&nbsp;

But the Qatari side, inspired by former Barcelona and Liverpool winger Philippe Coutinho, scored twice in the next six minutes through Ismail Mohamad and Almoez Ali to leave the game on a knife-edge.

With nine minutes remaining, Ronaldo appeared to have had the final say as he sprinted on to a long ball from Sultan Al Ghannam and lashed home a superb left-foot volley without breaking stride. There was still time for another twist as Michael Olunga pulled it back to 4-3 in the 85th minute to ensure a nervous final few minutes.

"When you face Ronaldo, there isn't much you can do," said Al Duhail&nbsp;manager Christophe Galtier, who was in charge of French giants Paris Saint-Germain last season.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/man-utd-claim-vital-champions-league-win-bellingham-strikes-again-650901">Man Utd claim vital Champions League win, Bellingham strikes again</a>

<h2>- 'Best in the world' -</h2>

"He scored two beautiful goals. I'm at a loss for words to describe him. What he did today is extraordinary for a 38-year-old. He's still the best player in the world." Another Riyadh-based side, Al Hilal, made light of being without their injured superstar Neymar as they thrashed India's Mumbai City 6-0 with two goals from former Fulham front man Aleksandar Mitrovic.

In the East zone, defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan were upset at home 2-0 by South Korea's Pohang Steelers, who netted either side of half-time in Saitama through Jeong Jae-hee and Goh Young-jun.

Urawa now face a battle to qualify for the knockout stages, having taken only four points from their three Group J games so far, level with China's Wuhan Three Towns, who beat Hanoi FC 2-1 for their first win.

"Today Pohang was the better team and deserved to win. Especially in the physical aspect, we couldn't do too much," said Urawa manager Maciej Skorza.

Japan's Kawasaki Frontale made it three wins from three with a 4-2 victory away to Thailand's BG Pathum United to open a three-point gap at the top of Group I over South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai.

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Cristiano Ronaldo rolled back the years to score two stunning goals and propel his Al Nassr side to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Al Duhail of Qatar in the AFC Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo rolled back the years to score two stunning goals and propel his Al Nassr side to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Al Duhail of Qatar in the AFC Champions League. Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane and Anderson Talisca also scored for the Saudi side late Tuesday as they made it three wins from three in the group stages of the premier Asian club competition. Talisca opened the scoring in Riyadh from the edge of the box in the 25th minute after being teed up by the 38-year-old Ronaldo's clever back-heeled flick as the Portuguese talisman went through his full repertoire of tricks. Mane turned and drilled home to add a second 11 minutes after the break and Al Nassr appeared to be cruising when Ronaldo curled home a sumptuous third from outside the box to make it 3-0 five minutes later. But the Qatari side, inspired by former Barcelona and Liverpool winger Philippe Coutinho, scored twice in the next six minutes through Ismail Mohamad and Almoez Ali to leave the game on a knife-edge. With nine minutes remaining, Ronaldo appeared to have had the final say as he sprinted on to a long ball from Sultan Al Ghannam and lashed home a superb left-foot volley without breaking stride. There was still time for another twist as Michael Olunga pulled it back to 4-3 in the 85th minute to ensure a nervous final few minutes. "When you face Ronaldo, there isn't much you can do," said Al Duhail manager Christophe Galtier, who was in charge of French giants Paris Saint-Germain last season. Also read: Man Utd claim vital Champions League win, Bellingham strikes again - 'Best in the world' - "He scored two beautiful goals. I'm at a loss for words to describe him. What he did today is extraordinary for a 38-year-old. He's still the best player in the world." Another Riyadh-based side, Al Hilal, made light of being without their injured superstar Neymar as they thrashed India's Mumbai City 6-0 with two goals from former Fulham front man Aleksandar Mitrovic. In the East zone, defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan were upset at home 2-0 by South Korea's Pohang Steelers, who netted either side of half-time in Saitama through Jeong Jae-hee and Goh Young-jun. Urawa now face a battle to qualify for the knockout stages, having taken only four points from their three Group J games so far, level with China's Wuhan Three Towns, who beat Hanoi FC 2-1 for their first win. "Today Pohang was the better team and deserved to win. Especially in the physical aspect, we couldn't do too much," said Urawa manager Maciej Skorza. Japan's Kawasaki Frontale made it three wins from three with a 4-2 victory away to Thailand's BG Pathum United to open a three-point gap at the top of Group I over South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Cristiano Ronaldo stunners help Al-Nassr beat Al-Duhail 4-3 in AFC Champions League

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo almost suffered an injury during his team's Euro 2024 qualifier match against Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina on Monday (Oct 16) when a fan invaded the pitch and attempted to take a selfie with him.&nbsp;

The incident transpired during the 39th minute of the game when Ronaldo had already fired two goals home. The pitch invader wearing Ronaldo's club Al Nassr jersey approached him on the near side when the players were getting ready for a throw-in.&nbsp;

Shortly after the man approached Ronaldo, five security guards converged upon him and dragged him away from the Portuguese. While Ronaldo initially seemed startled, he quickly touched his boot, suggesting the pitch invader may have stepped on his feet.&nbsp;

Afterwards, Ronald could be seen physically hurt and limping across the turf for the next few seconds. Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes ran up to Ronaldo to check up on him before receiving an assured reply.&nbsp;

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🚨🚨🚨 
Here's a closer look at the pitch invader during the Bosnia and Herzegovina V Portugal game tonight. Seems he trood on Cristiano Ronaldos foot while trying to take a picture. Why would you do this? Lifetime ban. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CristianoRonaldo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CristianoRonaldo</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ronaldo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ronaldo</a><a href="https://t.co/b6BbbPtAlt">pic.twitter.com/b6BbbPtAlt</a>
— EPLnews (@EPLnews24_7) <a href="https://twitter.com/EPLnews24_7/status/1714031411953381791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-ronaldo-go-beyond-euro-2024-and-play-world-cup-2026-cr7-answers-647616">Also read | Will Ronaldo go beyond Euro 2024 and play World Cup 2026? CR7 answers</a>

<h2>Ronaldo's future goals&nbsp;</h2>

Ronaldo has played a pivotal part in the Portugal side securing a spot in the Euro 2024 relatively early. During the ongoing international break, he has scored three goals, one against Slovakia and two against&nbsp;Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina - taking his national career goal tally to 127.&nbsp;

Prior to the match, Ronaldo had talked about setting small goals at the end of the career, especially if he is to play beyond the Euros and achieve 1,000 career goals.&nbsp;

“Things have happened in my life, both on a personal and professional level, that make me think more in the short term nowadays. People say I’m going to play on until I’m 40 or 41 years old. I don’t set these targets. It’s a question of just enjoying the moment, which is a good moment. I feel good," said Ronaldo.&nbsp;

Ronaldo enjoying his football with the national team comes after a turbulent time during former manager Fernando Santos' tenure. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo was routinely benched by Santos as the Portuguese team made a timid quarterfinal exit at the marquee event.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo almost suffered an injury during his team's Euro 2024 qualifier match against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Monday (Oct 16) when a fan invaded the pitch and attempted to take a selfie with him.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo almost suffered an injury during his team's Euro 2024 qualifier match against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Monday (Oct 16) when a fan invaded the pitch and attempted to take a selfie with him. The incident transpired during the 39th minute of the game when Ronaldo had already fired two goals home. The pitch invader wearing Ronaldo's club Al Nassr jersey approached him on the near side when the players were getting ready for a throw-in. Shortly after the man approached Ronaldo, five security guards converged upon him and dragged him away from the Portuguese. While Ronaldo initially seemed startled, he quickly touched his boot, suggesting the pitch invader may have stepped on his feet. Afterwards, Ronald could be seen physically hurt and limping across the turf for the next few seconds. Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes ran up to Ronaldo to check up on him before receiving an assured reply. 🚨🚨🚨 Here's a closer look at the pitch invader during the Bosnia and Herzegovina V Portugal game tonight. Seems he trood on Cristiano Ronaldos foot while trying to take a picture. Why would you do this? Lifetime ban. #CristianoRonaldo#Ronaldopic.twitter.com/b6BbbPtAlt — EPLnews (@EPLnews24_7) October 16, 2023 × Also read | Will Ronaldo go beyond Euro 2024 and play World Cup 2026? CR7 answers Ronaldo's future goals Ronaldo has played a pivotal part in the Portugal side securing a spot in the Euro 2024 relatively early. During the ongoing international break, he has scored three goals, one against Slovakia and two against Bosnia & Herzegovina - taking his national career goal tally to 127. Prior to the match, Ronaldo had talked about setting small goals at the end of the career, especially if he is to play beyond the Euros and achieve 1,000 career goals. “Things have happened in my life, both on a personal and professional level, that make me think more in the short term nowadays. People say I’m going to play on until I’m 40 or 41 years old. I don’t set these targets. It’s a question of just enjoying the moment, which is a good moment. I feel good," said Ronaldo. Ronaldo enjoying his football with the national team comes after a turbulent time during former manager Fernando Santos' tenure. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo was routinely benched by Santos as the Portuguese team made a timid quarterfinal exit at the marquee event. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Watch | Cristiano Ronaldo in pain as pitch invader attempts to click selfie with him

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has responded regarding his future in the sport. Quizzed by reporters if he will be playing in his 40s, Ronaldo, who recently secured Euro 2024 qualification for his side after a scintillating brace against Slovakia said he had not set any targets.

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has responded regarding his future in the sport. Quizzed by reporters if he will be playing in his 40s, Ronaldo, who recently secured Euro 2024 qualification for his side after a scintillating brace against Slovakia said he had not set any targets. “Things have happened in my life, both on a personal and professional level, that make me think more in the short term nowadays. People say I’m going to play on until I’m 40 or 41 years old. I don’t set these targets. It’s a question of just enjoying the moment, which is a good moment. I feel good," said Ronaldo. "My body is responding to how I’ve treated it over the years. I’m happy both at my club and in the Selecao. I’ve scored plenty of goals, I feel in good shape physically. It’s a question of enjoying the moment," he added. Also read | Cristiano Ronaldo could make his WWE debut ‘in some capacity’ at Crown Jewel show – Reports Ronaldo's 1,000 goal target Last week, Ronaldo scored in Portugal's 3-2 win, which took his goal tally with the national team to 125. After the match, it was revealed that Jorge Nuno Pinto, the president of FC Porto made a bet with Ronaldo to score 1,000 goals which the forward had immediately accepted. "It will be quite difficult, but it’s about my mindset and my motivation. If, physically, my legs treat me as well as I treat them...We'll see, these are small steps. To get to 1,000, you first have to get to 900. I think I will get there," he said during the conversation. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who currently has 857 career goals said it was about enjoying the game and taking small steps at a time if he was to realise his ambitions. "It's about continuing. These are small steps that motivate me to continue playing. I feel very happy about that," said Ronaldo. "For the national team, I wanted to beat the record for goals and international caps. But I just want to keep enjoying it. I don't follow the records; they are the ones that follow me." Ronaldo is enjoying his football with the national team comes after a turbulent time during former manager Fernando Santos' tenure. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo was routinely benched by Santos as the Portuguese team made a timid quarterfinal exit at the marquee event. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Will Ronaldo go beyond Euro 2024 and play World Cup 2026? CR7 answers

Shortly after securing a Euro 2024 berth for his national team, Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has set ambitious goals for his future. The talismanic striker rose to the occasion on Friday (Oct 13) evening as he scored a brace in his side's 3-2 win against Slovakia, taking his goal tally with the national team to 125.

Shortly after securing a Euro 2024 berth for his national team, Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has set ambitious goals for his future. The talismanic striker rose to the occasion on Friday (Oct 13) evening as he scored a brace in his side's 3-2 win against Slovakia, taking his goal tally with the national team to 125. After the match, it was revealed that Jorge Nuno Pinto, the president of FC Porto made a bet with Ronaldo to score 1,000 goals and the forward immediately accepted the challenge. "It will be quite difficult, but it’s about my mindset and my motivation. If, physically, my legs treat me as well as I treat them...We'll see, these are small steps. To get to 1,000, you first have to get to 900. I think I will get there," he said during the conversation. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who currently has 857 career goals said it was about enjoying the game and taking small steps at a time if he was to realise his ambitions. "It's about continuing. These are small steps that motivate me to continue playing. I feel very happy about that," said Ronaldo. "For the national team, I wanted to beat the record for goals and international caps. But I just want to keep enjoying it. I don't follow the records; they are the ones that follow me." Also read | Cristiano Ronaldo could make his WWE debut ‘in some capacity’ at Crown Jewel show – Reports Ronaldo's international career revival Ronaldo enjoying his football with the national team comes after a turbulent time during former manager Fernando Santos' tenure. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo was routinely benched by Santos as the Portuguese team made a timid quarterfinal exit at the marquee event. Images and videos of Ronaldo sobbing and walking off the pitch after the loss suggested it was the end of the road for the greatest Portuguese footballer. However, after Santos' departure and the appointment of former Belgium manager Roberto Martinez, Ronaldo's international career has got a second wing. Given his fitness and desire to represent the country, it looks certain that Ronaldo will give one last shot at the European championship next year. He has already won Euro 2016 and a Nations League trophy with the Selecao and another trophy next year, perhaps, might be the best way for him to bid adieu at the world stage. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Cristiano Ronaldo reveals THIS ambitious target he has set after Euro qualifiers' heroics

Many on social media platforms alleged that Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo showed his support towards Palestine by waving its flag on the field amid the nation's ongoing conflict with Israel. Videos and pictures started circulating, on Sunday (Oct&nbsp;8), which claimed that the footballer was none other than Ronaldo who openly supported Palestine by waving its flag on the field.&nbsp;

One such viral tweet read: "Star footballer Christiano Ronaldo is supporting Palestine by raising their flag after victory".&nbsp;

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However, that is NOT the truth. As per a report in India Today, the footballer in question is not CR7 but Moroccan footballer Jawad El Yamiq. Moreover, the video isn't of recent times but one from the 2022 FIFA World Cup when Morocco beat Canada.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/saudi-arabia-takes-formal-step-to-host-2034-world-cup-submits-letter-of-intent-to-fifa-644544">Saudi Arabia takes formal step to host 2034 World Cup, submits letter of intent to FIFA</a>

The report further proved that the video had nothing to do with Ronaldo as&nbsp;the media organisation Middle East Eye had shared Yamiq's viral video on YouTube on December 2, 2022. Check out the post on X.

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WATCH: Moroccan player Jawad El Yamiq celebrates his team’s win over Canada and advancing to the knockout stages of the World Cup with a Palestinian flag. <a href="https://t.co/iZt2NtJo2m">pic.twitter.com/iZt2NtJo2m</a>
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1598400917300449282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<h2>RONALDO NOWHERE IN THE PICTURE</h2>

In addition, Qatar-based Doha News&nbsp;shared a similar video on Facebook with the same information. Moreover,&nbsp;according to news reports, Moroccan footballers also waved a&nbsp;Palestinian flag once again during their historic win over Spain in last year's World Cup on December 6 (edging past the former champions 3-2 on penalties after being 0-0&nbsp;post-regulation time). Thus, the clip by all means is not related to Portugal captain and Al-Nassr star Ronaldo.

At present, Ronaldo is looking to extend his stay at the Saudi-based club Al-Nassr. As per reports, the 38-year-old veteran is keen on renewing his contract with the club until early 2027. In addition, he wishes to play the next FIFA World Cup&nbsp;in 2026&nbsp;before signing off from the&nbsp;game.

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Many on social media platforms alleged that Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo showed his support towards Palestine by waving its flag on the field amid the nation's ongoing conflict with Israel.

Many on social media platforms alleged that Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo showed his support towards Palestine by waving its flag on the field amid the nation's ongoing conflict with Israel. Videos and pictures started circulating, on Sunday (Oct 8), which claimed that the footballer was none other than Ronaldo who openly supported Palestine by waving its flag on the field. One such viral tweet read: "Star footballer Christiano Ronaldo is supporting Palestine by raising their flag after victory". However, that is NOT the truth. As per a report in India Today, the footballer in question is not CR7 but Moroccan footballer Jawad El Yamiq. Moreover, the video isn't of recent times but one from the 2022 FIFA World Cup when Morocco beat Canada. Also read: Saudi Arabia takes formal step to host 2034 World Cup, submits letter of intent to FIFA The report further proved that the video had nothing to do with Ronaldo as the media organisation Middle East Eye had shared Yamiq's viral video on YouTube on December 2, 2022. Check out the post on X. WATCH: Moroccan player Jawad El Yamiq celebrates his team’s win over Canada and advancing to the knockout stages of the World Cup with a Palestinian flag. pic.twitter.com/iZt2NtJo2m — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) December 1, 2022 × RONALDO NOWHERE IN THE PICTURE In addition, Qatar-based Doha News shared a similar video on Facebook with the same information. Moreover, according to news reports, Moroccan footballers also waved a Palestinian flag once again during their historic win over Spain in last year's World Cup on December 6 (edging past the former champions 3-2 on penalties after being 0-0 post-regulation time). Thus, the clip by all means is not related to Portugal captain and Al-Nassr star Ronaldo. At present, Ronaldo is looking to extend his stay at the Saudi-based club Al-Nassr. As per reports, the 38-year-old veteran is keen on renewing his contract with the club until early 2027. In addition, he wishes to play the next FIFA World Cup in 2026 before signing off from the game. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

FACT-CHECK: Footballer waving the Palestine flag is NOT Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo - Know More

Retired football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes footballers who move to Saudi Arabia risk their legacies becoming about money rather than talent.

In an apparent dig at Cristiano Ronaldo and the legion of footballers that have moved to Saudi Arabia, Zlatan said players should be remembered for their talent, not "for what you earned".

"I think players that reach a certain level, they have to stop at a certain stage - the big stage," he said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messis-remarriage-with-barcelona-still-a-possibility-reports-643413">Lionel Messi’s remarriage with Barcelona still a possibility: Reports</a>

Speaking about himself, Zlatan said he had several offers from China as well as Saudi Arabia but he preferred to finish off at a big and historic club as AC Milan.

"I had an offer also from China, I had an offer also from Saudi. But the situation is, what do you want? What objectives do you have?" he said at the Piers Morgan Show.&nbsp;

"You have to be remembered for your talent, not for what you earned. What we are training every day for, what we are being recognised for is our talent, and that is what you want to be remembered for."

"You cannot [move to] a lower stage and finish your career in a different way. But some players needed the situations where you can earn a lot of money because they didn't earn enough."

<h2>Players exodus to Saudi Arabia&nbsp;</h2>

Ever since Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassar after an acrimonious divorce from Manchester United, there has been an exodus of players moving to the kingdom.

Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, Fabinho, and Jordan Henderson, amongst others, are the high-profile names to have ended up in Saudi to finish their careers.

While most footballers to have moved to Saudi were at the fag end of their careers or had declined considerably, the movement of players such as Ruben Neves, Jota, Gabri Veiga - still in the prime of their careers, suggests that money is having a far bigger say than ever in football.

Although Zlatan went to America and played for Major League Soccer (MLS) side LA Galaxy, he returned to Italy in 2019 and managed to win the Scudetto in 2021-22 with AC Milan.

In the subsequent season, Zlatan only played four times and started one match, scoring one goal, before announcing his retirement. The Swede had a memorable farewell as the entire San Siro appeared for his swansong and gave him a teary-eyed goodbye - something that most players moving to Saudi Arabia might miss.

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Retired football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes footballers who move to Saudi Arabia risk their legacies becoming about money rather than talent. In an apparent dig at Cristiano Ronaldo and the legion of footballers that have moved to Saudi Arabia, Zlatan said players should be remembered for their talent, not "for what you earned".

Retired football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes footballers who move to Saudi Arabia risk their legacies becoming about money rather than talent. In an apparent dig at Cristiano Ronaldo and the legion of footballers that have moved to Saudi Arabia, Zlatan said players should be remembered for their talent, not "for what you earned". "I think players that reach a certain level, they have to stop at a certain stage - the big stage," he said. ALSO READ: Lionel Messi’s remarriage with Barcelona still a possibility: Reports Speaking about himself, Zlatan said he had several offers from China as well as Saudi Arabia but he preferred to finish off at a big and historic club as AC Milan. "I had an offer also from China, I had an offer also from Saudi. But the situation is, what do you want? What objectives do you have?" he said at the Piers Morgan Show. "You have to be remembered for your talent, not for what you earned. What we are training every day for, what we are being recognised for is our talent, and that is what you want to be remembered for." "You cannot [move to] a lower stage and finish your career in a different way. But some players needed the situations where you can earn a lot of money because they didn't earn enough." Players exodus to Saudi Arabia Ever since Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassar after an acrimonious divorce from Manchester United, there has been an exodus of players moving to the kingdom. Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, Fabinho, and Jordan Henderson, amongst others, are the high-profile names to have ended up in Saudi to finish their careers. While most footballers to have moved to Saudi were at the fag end of their careers or had declined considerably, the movement of players such as Ruben Neves, Jota, Gabri Veiga - still in the prime of their careers, suggests that money is having a far bigger say than ever in football. Although Zlatan went to America and played for Major League Soccer (MLS) side LA Galaxy, he returned to Italy in 2019 and managed to win the Scudetto in 2021-22 with AC Milan. In the subsequent season, Zlatan only played four times and started one match, scoring one goal, before announcing his retirement. The Swede had a memorable farewell as the entire San Siro appeared for his swansong and gave him a teary-eyed goodbye - something that most players moving to Saudi Arabia might miss. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'What objectives do you have?': Zlatan takes dig at Ronaldo and other players who joined Saudi Pro League

Kevin-Prince Boateng has revealed how Lionel Messi acknowledged his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. Boateng, who played alongside Messi in Barcelona said the Argentine once asked him if it was tough to score in&nbsp;Seria A - the Italian top-division football league where Ronaldo moved in to play for Juventus in 2018.&nbsp;

Speaking on former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel, Boateng said Messi did not speak much, despite being the captain but showed some interest in understanding the Italian league.&nbsp;

“He [Messi] is the captain but doesn't speak. We spoke one time in the shower because he asked if it's difficult to score in Italy because Ronaldo was there at that time, and he showed the rivalry between them. I told him that it was more difficult that Ronaldo was there, and he scored every game for three years. People forget too easily what he's done there," said Boateng.

<h2>‘It was good while it lasted’</h2>

Notably, Boateng's revelation comes weeks after Ronaldo spoke regarding his rivalry with Messi, stating it was good while it lasted.

"I don't see things like that, the rivalry is gone. It was good, spectators liked it. Those who like Cristiano Ronaldo don't have to hate Messi and vice versa. We've done well, we have changed the history of football. We are respected all over the world, that's the most important thing," said Ronaldo.&nbsp;

"He's followed his path and I have followed mine, regardless of playing outside of Europe. From what I've seen, he's been doing well and so have I. The legacy lives on, but I don't see the rivalry like that. We shared the stage many times, it was 15 years. I'm not saying we're friends, I've never had dinner with him, but we're professional colleagues and we respect each other."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-changed-football-but-rivalry-is-gone-cristiano-ronaldo-opens-up-on-competition-with-lionel-messi-633337">Also read |&nbsp;We changed football but rivalry is gone: Cristiano Ronaldo opens up on competition with Lionel Messi</a>

Notably, Ronaldo scored 101 goals in 134 appearances for the Turin-based club before returning to Manchester United in 2021. It was during this time that Messi also moved on from his boyhood club and ended up at&nbsp;Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent. He is now with Inter Miami in MLS while Ronaldo is enjoying his time with Saudi Arabian league team Al-Nassar.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Kevin-Prince Boateng has revealed how Lionel Messi acknowledged his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. Boateng, who played alongside Messi in Barcelona said the Argentine once asked him if it was tough to score in Seria A - the Italian top-division football league where Ronaldo moved in to play for Juventus in 2018.

Kevin-Prince Boateng has revealed how Lionel Messi acknowledged his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. Boateng, who played alongside Messi in Barcelona said the Argentine once asked him if it was tough to score in Seria A - the Italian top-division football league where Ronaldo moved in to play for Juventus in 2018. Speaking on former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel, Boateng said Messi did not speak much, despite being the captain but showed some interest in understanding the Italian league. “He [Messi] is the captain but doesn't speak. We spoke one time in the shower because he asked if it's difficult to score in Italy because Ronaldo was there at that time, and he showed the rivalry between them. I told him that it was more difficult that Ronaldo was there, and he scored every game for three years. People forget too easily what he's done there," said Boateng. ‘It was good while it lasted’ Notably, Boateng's revelation comes weeks after Ronaldo spoke regarding his rivalry with Messi, stating it was good while it lasted. "I don't see things like that, the rivalry is gone. It was good, spectators liked it. Those who like Cristiano Ronaldo don't have to hate Messi and vice versa. We've done well, we have changed the history of football. We are respected all over the world, that's the most important thing," said Ronaldo. "He's followed his path and I have followed mine, regardless of playing outside of Europe. From what I've seen, he's been doing well and so have I. The legacy lives on, but I don't see the rivalry like that. We shared the stage many times, it was 15 years. I'm not saying we're friends, I've never had dinner with him, but we're professional colleagues and we respect each other." Also read | We changed football but rivalry is gone: Cristiano Ronaldo opens up on competition with Lionel Messi Notably, Ronaldo scored 101 goals in 134 appearances for the Turin-based club before returning to Manchester United in 2021. It was during this time that Messi also moved on from his boyhood club and ended up at Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent. He is now with Inter Miami in MLS while Ronaldo is enjoying his time with Saudi Arabian league team Al-Nassar. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Is it difficult to score in Italy?': Messi questioned teammate after Ronaldo's move to Juventus

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