Cristiano Ronaldo was caught on camera making a sarcastic comment to the referee during Al-Nassr’s 3-1 win over Neo in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday. Even in victory, the Portuguese star showed his fierce competitive spirit as his frustration at being targeted briefly took center stage.
The incident happened just before the break with the score still goalless. Al-Nassr were building a promising counter-attack when the referee’s whistle suddenly halted play, much to Ronaldo’s disbelief. As the players walked towards the tunnel, the 40-year-old confronted the official and made a tongue-in-cheek comment that left no doubt about his feelings.
“Excellent, excellent. Keep it up, you’re playing a good game – you’re playing a very good game,” Ronaldo was heard to say, his tone dripping with sarcasm, as reported by The Sun.
Visibly irritated, the Portugal captain gestured in frustration as his teammates led him to the dressing room. It was yet another reminder of Ronaldo’s relentless pursuit of excellence and his reluctance to accept what he perceives as unfair decisions.
If the first half ended with irritation, the second began with intent. Al-Nassr returned sharper and more determined. Just three minutes after the restart, former Chelsea midfielder Angelo Gabriel broke the deadlock when he blocked Ronaldo’s free-kick which was blocked by the Neom defence.
Neom’s night took a turn for the worse moments later when striker Luciano Rodrguez was sent off after a VAR review for elbowing an opponent, leaving the hosts with ten men. The red card added to their woes, especially after they already lost former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette to injury in the first half.
Ronaldo, who missed a header in the match, converted from the penalty spot midway through the second half. His compatriot Luis Maximiano initially denied him from close range, but Joao Felix chased down the rebound and was pushed in the back, earning a free-kick.
Captain Al-Nassr stepped up and converted with typical precision, firing low into the corner to score his 953rd career goal and 83rd in the Saudi Pro League since joining the club at the start of 2023.
In the 84th minute, Neom briefly broke through through Ahmed Abd and capitalized on Mohamed Simakan’s lapse in concentration. However, Joao Felix soon restored Al-Nassr’s two-goal cushion to secure a deserved 3-1 victory that kept the side three points clear at the top of the table.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 9, 2025
