Al Nassr began 2026 with a victory as valuable as it was controversial. The Riyadh side won 3-2 against Al Shabab in a complex match, defined only in the final stages, and picked up their first three points of the year in the Saudi Pro League. However, beyond the result, all eyes were on Cristiano Ronaldo and his behaviour towards the opposing goalkeeper.
The team led by the Knights of Najd had to fight harder than expected to come away with the win and only with 15 minutes remaining did they manage to tip the balance. The tension of the closing stages, coupled with complaints about the refereeing, ended up unleashing an episode that quickly went viral.
Cristiano Ronaldo challenged goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe
After Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s goal, which meant the final 3-2 for Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo stared at the Brazilian goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe and made a gesture that was interpreted as a direct provocation: he pretended to cry, sending him to “cry” in the middle of the complaints about an alleged infringement prior to the goal.
Al Shabab’s goalkeeper protested along with several of his teammates asking for the goal to be annulled, when the Portuguese star pointed at him, waited for eye contact and made the gesture, generating the immediate reaction of players and referee. It was not the only clash between the two during the night.
The duel between Ronaldo and Grohe had several episodes
Minutes earlier, in one of Al Nassr’s goals, Ronaldo had already been involved in a controversial action when he put his hand on Grohe’s head and pushed him down after the play. After the intervention of the referee and the reaction of the goalkeeper, both apologized and the incident seemed to be closed… until the decisive goal.
Images shared on social media later showed a brief embrace between the two, although they omitted much of the previous gestures. After the goal, Grohe requested a VAR review, while Ronaldo, visibly annoyed, pointed to the goalkeeper and exaggerated his reaction, pretending to be in shock before simulating crying.
Al Nassr remain in second place in the Saudi Pro League
In sporting terms, the victory allows Al Nassr to remain as the only escort of the leader Al Hilal, four points behind but with one game more. The goals of the victory came from an own goal by Saad Balobaid, a spectacular bicycle kick by Kingsley Coman and the decisive goal by Ghareeb.
The team snapped a three-game losing streak, although the performance again left doubts. Cristiano Ronaldo had a quiet performance, with his first shot in play not coming until the 82nd minute, and was once again in the spotlight for his temperament rather than his footballing contribution.
Ronaldo’s character was once again in the spotlight
At 40 years of age and approaching 41, the Portuguese is going through one of the most difficult starts to the year of his career. Without goals, with controversial gestures and constant clashes with rivals, his leadership is beginning to be scrutinized.
Al Nassr will play again on Wednesday, January 21 against Damac as visitors, in a context where the focus will not only be on the result, but also on the behavior of its biggest star.
Read the full article here
