Cristiano Ronaldo found himself at the center of a storm of criticism following his actions at the conclusion of Al Nassr’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday.
The Portuguese forward kick-started the scoring with a 21st-minute penalty, yet it was a late brace from the Brazilian Talisca, securing victory with a goal four minutes before the end, that sealed the match for Al Nassr.
Immediately after the final whistle, videos circulating on social media captured Ronaldo making what appeared to be an obscene gesture, cupping his ear before repeatedly thrusting his hand forward in front of his pelvic region. It seemed that his actions were aimed at the rival Al Shabab supporters.
In the background, chants of “Messi” could be discerned, alluding to Ronaldo’s perennial football rival from Argentina.
Though the incident wasn’t captured by television cameras, some Saudi commentators insisted that Ronaldo should face consequences for his behavior.
While there hasn’t been an official response, Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported that the national football federation had initiated an investigation into the matter.
“The disciplinary committee faces a significant test. We’ll have to wait and see,” remarked Waleed Al Farraj, a prominent Saudi writer and television host, on the social media platform X. “No matter how famous you are, there are limits. This is how major leagues operate.”
Al Nassr was not immediately available for comment.
This isn’t the first time the 39-year-old Ronaldo has been embroiled in such controversy. In April 2023, he seemingly made a similar gesture, grabbing his genitals while heading towards the dugout after a league game against Al Hilal, which Al Nassr lost 2-0.
Earlier this month, during the Riyadh Season Cup final where Al Nassr faced Al Hilal again and lost 2-0, Ronaldo picked up an Al Hilal scarf thrown at him from the stands, placed it in his shorts, and then discarded it as he made his way towards the tunnel.
Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr as a free agent in late 2022, leads the Saudi league’s scoring charts with an impressive tally of 22 goals in 20 appearances this season. Al Nassr currently stands second in the table with 52 points, trailing Al Hilal by four points, with the latter having a game in hand.
Al-Nassr is vying for success in the Asian Champions League, a tournament it has never won before. They are set to face Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates in the quarterfinals next month.
