Cristiano Ronaldo was irritated when Al-Ettifaq‘s supporters chanted Lionel Messi’s name at him during Al-Nassr game on Tuesday night, October 31.
The Argentine won the award ahead of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and PSG’s Kylian Mbappe.
However, the 38-year-old could not hide from the success of his long-term opponent, as social media was on fire with tributes to Messi following a remarkable 2022-2023 season in which he helped Argentina win the World Cup.
Well, the mockery by Cristiano Ronaldo came back to hunt him on Wednesday, when he led Al-Nassr against Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq.
Cristiano Ronaldo led his team to win the King Cup of Champions match 1-0 courtesy to Sadio Mane’s goal, but he was ridiculed by Al-Ettifaq fans chanting “Messi! Messi!”
Ronaldo’s reaction was caught on camera and after he initially smiled on the touchline, he motioned to the fans to be quiet.
The Portuguese international shushed the Al-Ettifaq fans with his finger placed on his lips and then telling them to simmer down.
The home fans were happy with his reaction as they supported him with a round of applause for the best player in their team.
Well, it cannot be confirmed if Cristiano Ronaldo is pleased with Messi’s record-extending eighth success at the Ballon d’Or.
Cristiano Ronaldo stated that he values popularity contest highly when it comes to awards during his time in Serie A playing for Juventus.
Speaking in an interview with Piers Morgan on ITV in 2019, he said: “I would love [more], and I think I deserve it.”
“Messi is a fantastic guy, a fantastic player. He’s in the history of football – but I think I have to have six or seven or eight to be above him.”
“My relationship with him is, we are not friends, but we have shared this stage for 15 years. I have a good relationship with him and I know that he has pushed me to be a better player and I have pushed him to be a better player as well.”
Cristiano Ronaldo last won the Ballon d’Or in 2017 and as at then he was still playing for Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga.
Ever since Cristiano Ronaldo won it last, his ex-teammates Luka Modric and Karim Benzema have been the only winners aside from Lionel Messi.
After receiving his 8th Ballon D’or award on Monday, Messi was asked about rivalry with Ronaldo and he said: “What we have done all this time is very appreciable because as they say it is easy to reach the top but difficult to stay.”
“We stayed at the top for 10 or 15 years, I’m not sure how many, and it was very difficult. It was very difficult to continue at this level and I think it was a great thing and a beautiful memory for everyone who enjoys football.”
