Cristiano Ronaldo was trolled by a section of football fans after his animated celebration during the Al Nassr Saudi Pro League match against Al Ettifaq.
The incident occurred in the 67th minute when a powerful shot bounced off Ronaldo’s back and crossed the goal line. As the referee awarded the goal, striker Al Nassr sprinted towards the stands and burst into his signature “SIU” celebration.
Not everyone liked the reaction. Several fans on social media described the celebration as curmudgeonly and selfish, arguing that Ronaldo appeared to be more focused on getting a goal for his own personal account than acknowledging his team-mate who had taken the shot in the first place. Critics felt the moment reinforced the impression that Ronaldo prioritized individual milestones over team ethos.
Ronaldo’s answer comes as no surprise given his well-documented pursuit of the 1,000-goal career milestone. The 40-year-old spoke candidly about his ambitions during the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on December 28, where he was named the best player in the Middle East.
“It’s hard to keep playing but I’m motivated,” Ronaldo said. “My passion is high and I want to continue it. It doesn’t matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe. I always enjoy football and I want to continue it.”
“You know what my goal is. I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number (1,000 goals). I will definitely reach it if not for the injury.”
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and European Championship winner with Portugal in 2016, remains the most prominent figure in the Saudi Pro League. He joined Al Nassr on a $536.3 million deal after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and signed another two-year extension in the summer, reportedly worth $710 million, which will keep him at the club until at least the 2026-27 season.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
December 31, 2025
