Cristiano Ronaldo was seen reacting furiously during Al Nassr’s clash against opponents Al Hilal, whose fans chanted Lionel Messi’s name on Thursday, February 8.
Items of blue and white Al Hilal merchandise were thrown at Ronaldo as the Al Nassr forward entered the tunnel at the Kingdom Arena following his team’s loss in the Riyadh Season Cup final.
Footage on social media showed Ronaldo picking up the item that was thrown at him from the stands and putting it inside his shorts before throwing it back toward the crowd.
Al Hilal fans taunted Ronaldo throughout the game by chanting Lionel Messi’s name whenever the former Real Madrid star touched the ball.
Ronaldo had returned to action after recovering from a calf injury in the Riyadh Season Cup clash against Al Hilal at the Kingdom Arena on Thursday.
However, it was far from an ideal night for Al Nassr as they lost 2-0. Sergej Milinkovi-Savic (17′) and Salem Aldawsari (30′) scored for Al Hilal as they lifted the Riyadh Season Cup trophy.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s frustrations were on full display in the game, especially when Al Hilal fans chanted his rival Lionel Messi’s name at him. The Portuguese legend was seen responding to the fans, saying (via Marca): “I’m Cristiano, not Messi.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who turned 39 on Monday, returned to action on Thursday having recovered from a calf problem that had seen him issue a public apology on Jan. 23 after the injury contributed to the postponement of his team’s preseason tour of China.
Al Nassr thrashed Messi’s Inter Miami 6-0 in Ronaldo’s absence Feb. 1.
Ronaldo is the top scorer in the Saudi Pro league this season. Al Nassr are second in the table, seven points adrift of leaders Al Hilal after 19 games.
