Cristiano Ronaldo throws strop over Lionel Messi chants as football icon rages at fans during Al-Nassr defeat

Cristiano Ronaldo throws strop over Lionel Messi chants as football icon rages at fans during Al-Nassr defeat

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 09/02/2024

- 11:18

The Portugal international saw his side lose to Al-Hilal on Thursday night

Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't contain his anger after being targeted with Lionel Messi chants during Al-Nassr's 2-0 defeat to Al-Hilal on Thursday night.

The two Saudi sides met in a friendly, with goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Aldawsari giving Al-Hilal the win.


Ronaldo never likes losing, having been at the top of his game for the best part of two decades.

And footage from the match shows the 39-year-old raging at supporters who taunted him with chants about Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo raged at fans as Al-Nassr lost to Al-Hilal on Thursday night

TWITTER/X

Supporters inside the ground were heard signing the name of the Argentina international.

Ronaldo then appeared to react angrily, addressing fans by saying: "I am here, not Messi."

With his mood going from bad to worse as the game slipped away from Al-Nassr, the Portugal skipper also received a yellow card for smashing the ball into the stands.

That came after Al-Hilal had been given a controversial free-kick.

After the game, which included a surprise appearance from WWE icon The Undertaker, Ronaldo continued to throw a strop.

A fan threw an Al-Hilal shirt at the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Sporting Lisbon star.

Ronaldo then seemed to rub the jersey in question on himself before discarding it to the floor.

Al-Hilal players were also given a guard of honour after losing the Riyadh Season Cup game.

But Ronaldo was enraged by somebody standing in his way, throwing his arms up in the air in frustration.

It wasn't a great birthday present for the veteran, who celebrated turning 39 with his family earlier in the week.

And Ronaldo's theatrics show he's as dramatic as ever, even as he approaches the twilight years of his career.

His rivalry with Messi was, during the 2000s and 2010s, fascinating to watch unfold.

The pair first played against each other when Barcelona held Manchester United to a goalless draw at the Nou Camp back in 2008.

Ronaldo missed a penalty that day, though the Red Devils did beat Barcelona 1-0 in the return leg at Old Trafford courtesy of a wonder goal from Paul Scholes.

Overall, Ronaldo and Messi have faced each other on 36 occasions for club and country.

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Messi leads the way with 16 wins, while his rival's teams have won 11 of those showdowns.

Meanwhile, speaking recently, former United chief David Gill opened up on signing Ronaldo for the club all the way back in 2003.

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand's FIVE podcast, he said: “He was so motivated to be one of the best and he was very well managed. For us to have him was brilliant.

“Jorge [Mendes] was a very good agent for him, managed him correctly.

"We always felt that he would move to Madrid at some stage but we tried to push that as long as possible.

Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's rivalry has captivated the footballing world for the best part of two decades

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"His whole attitude and what he did for the club was phenomenal.”

Gill also feels accepting £80million for Ronaldo from Real Madrid in 2009 was too low as well.

“Hindsight’s very good but at the time it was very good, but you are exactly right I agree," he added.

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