Former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo endured a difficult evening after Al-Nassr lost in the King’s Cup final against Saudi rivals Al-Hilal
Cristiano Ronaldo was the target of more Lionel Messi chants after suffering cup final heartbreak in Saudi Arabia – and even Neymar couldn’t resist laughing at his expense.
The Portuguese icon was on the losing side as his Al-Nassr side lost out to Al-Hilal in the King’s Cup final. Goals from Aleksandr Mitrovic appeared to secured victory for the latter before former Arsenal star David Ospina was sent off.
Ali Albulayhi was then sent off ahead of Ayman Yahya’s equaliser for Al-Nassr. The chaos continued late on as ex-Chelsea star Kalidou Koulibaly also saw red. The game then headed into a penalty shootout. Ronaldo was successful from the spot but Al-Nassr ended up losing.
That triggered the veteran forward to break down in tears as his wait for silverware in Saudi Arabia goes on.
Fans then stuck the knife in as they mocked him by chanting the name of his great rival Messi, now plying his trade in the US with Inter Miami.
Neymar, who plays for Al-Hilal but missed out due to injury, was spotted in the stands, laughing as the chants were aimed and filming. People sitting in the Brazilian’s box also joined in and the ex-PSG superstar couldn’t have looked more delighted had he tried.
Ronaldo and Messi have had a long-running rivalry stretching back to their time in Spain with Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
It comes after Ronaldo’s former Man United teammate Wayne Rooney recently claimed that the Argentine is the better player between the two.
“I think Messi, I think he’s just the best ever,” Rooney said on The Overlap. “I get a lot of stick for saying Messi where it’s as if, ‘How can you say Messi, it’s Ronaldo.’ I understand that people can say Messi, people can say Ronaldo.
“They are both incredible, probably the best two players to ever play the game. For me, Messi has just got that little bit more extra flair, which I like in a player, so that’s the reason.”
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After finishing as runners-up in the Kings’ Cup and second in the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo will now be aiming to end his trophy drought on the international front. He is expected to be named in Portugal’s squad for the upcoming Euros in Germany.
Portugal last lifted the title in 2016 and have been drawn to face the Czech Republic, Turkey and Georgia in the group stage. Away from the Euros, Ronaldo has claimed that even a World Cup title won’t end the debate between him and Messi.
“Even if I win the World Cup that will continue,” he said after Argentine won the World Cup “Some people like me more, some less. It’s like in life, some like blondes, some like brunettes.
“I have always had to show what I can do year after year. I would love to win this tournament. I’m ambitious but if you tell me I won’t win any more tournaments I would still be happy given all I have won. In the history books all other records will be there. But obviously, a World Cup on the shelf wouldn’t be bad. It would be a dream.”