Cristiano Ronaldo faced jeering from fans during Al Nassr 1-1 draw against Al Taawoun, with chants of his rival Lionel Messi name. Despite the taunts, Ronaldo responded with a thumbs-up and a smile. The result dropped Al Nassr to fourth in the Saudi Pro League standings, while Al Taawoun stayed in eighth position.
In the Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Taawoun on January 18, 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo faced jeers from opposition fans, who taunted him with chants of his long-time rival Lionel Messi’s name. Despite the hostile atmosphere, Ronaldo maintained his composure and responded with a thumbs-up and a smile, a marked change from his usual reaction to such chants. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Al Nassr struggling to maintain their title challenge. Al Nassr’s equalizer came in the 64th minute from Aymeric Laporte, following Saad Fahad Al Nasser’s first-half goal for Al Taawoun.
Ronaldo’s team now sits fourth in the league with 29 points from 15 matches, trailing leaders Al Hilal, who have 40 points. The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi has been a defining narrative of modern football, with the two players often compared to other great sports rivalries. Ronaldo’s graceful response to the taunts highlights his maturity, particularly as his team’s hopes of clinching the league title continue to fade. The incident has garnered attention, especially with Ronaldo’s legendary status in football and his recent move to Al Nassr.
