Cristiano Ronaldo Throws Medal into Crowd and Responds to Lionel Messi Taunts
Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his frustration by tossing his runners-up medal into the crowd following Al-Nassr’s loss to Al-Hilal in the Riyadh Seasons Cup. The match was marked by spectators chanting support for his rival, Lionel Messi, despite Messi’s team, Inter Miami, performing poorly in the tournament.
As the chants for Messi echoed through the Kingdom Arena, Ronaldo retorted by emphatically stating, “I am here, not Messi.” Throughout their careers, the two football icons have vied for the title of the greatest of all time, with Messi’s eight Ballon d’Or awards overshadowing Ronaldo’s five.
The defeat worsened for Ronaldo as Al-Hilal secured a 2-0 victory with goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Aldawsari, ultimately winning the Riyadh Seasons Cup. As the Al-Hilal players received their medals and accolades, footage emerged on social media of Ronaldo storming off the pitch and discarding his medal in frustration.
While Ronaldo has been a standout scorer in the Saudi Pro League, with 20 goals in 18 matches, his individual success has not translated to team achievements. Despite his prolific scoring, Al-Nassr faces disappointment with Al-Hilal leading the table by seven points.
Additionally, there are uncertainties surrounding Ronaldo’s future in Saudi Arabia, as former Al-Nassr boss Rudi Garcia suggested that the veteran forward may eventually return to Europe. Ronaldo’s current contract extends until 2025, ushering him beyond his 40th birthday.
