On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Cristiano Ronaldo’s club Al Nassr have released a slightly bizarre and very petty statement in response to a fan and YouTuber entering their dressing room and doing Lionel Messi’s celebration.
See below for the statement put out by Al Nassr, with the Saudi Pro League club clearly feeling it was disrespectful of this individual to pose near Ronaldo’s spot in the dressing room whilst copying Messi’s cupped-ear celebration from his time in that memorable 2022 World Cup-winning campaign.
Below is the full post put out on Al Nassr’s official account on X, formerly Twitter, while we also have translation from AS, which provides some further context to this pretty ridiculous story.
???? ?????? ? pic.twitter.com/GSSKEjCCbP
— ???? ????? ??????? (@AlNassrFC) September 16, 2024
The statement reads: “We would like to point out that Al Nassr Club has always welcomed its visitors, fans, and supporters. Throughout its long history, our doors have been open to all. However, the recent individual (irresponsible) actions inside the dressing room at First Park Stadium are unacceptable. Some people fail to recognise the significance of the team they represent, as well as the club’s heritage. They disrespected our fans.
“We want to clarify that Al Nassr Club Company has instructed the relevant internal departments to address the matter immediately, ensuring the club’s literary, moral, and material rights are preserved. We reaffirm that our doors and facilities remain open to all fans, provided they adhere to proper conduct.”
All in all, when you see the original image that provoked this response, it seems like a bit of an overreaction from the club…
A Saudi Arabian YouTuber did Lionel Messi’s celebration from the World Cup in front of Cristiano Ronaldo’s locker at Al Nassr’s stadium yesterday and the club released a statement condemning it today. ??? pic.twitter.com/DDBm5T9KZP
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) September 17, 2024
Clearly, Ronaldo is Al Nassr’s star player, with the Portugal international paving the way for so many other big names to move to the Saudi Pro League after he made the move there when his contract at Manchester United was terminated.
Ronaldo has helped football in Saudi grow, so it’s not surprising that they take his presence at the club very seriously, but surely a light-hearted joke like this doesn’t need to be made into such a big deal.
The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry is well documented, of course, but there’s always been a lot of mutual respect between the pair, so things like this really seem to be making a problem out of nothing.
Top photos by FAYEZ NURELDINE and FRANCK FIFE / Getty Images
More must-reads:
- Breaking down the FedExCup bubble ahead of regular-season finale
- Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
- The 'MLB mascot names' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Sir Jim Ratcliffe now knows how much Man United’s £62m striker target earns, and he may back off
Fever Coach Stephanie White Has Given One Player the Green Light Amid Caitlin Clark's Injury
Caitlin Clark is expected to sit out for a fourth straight game on Sunday when the Indiana Fever take on the Chicago Sky in a much-awaited rivalry matchup. The 23-year-old is still dealing with a reaggravated groin strain and has no timetable to return. The rest of her Fever teammates have had to step up in her absence. There is, perhaps, no other player who has taken a bigger role on the offensive end amid Clark’s injury spell than three-time All-Star Kelsey Mitchell. Mitchell, however, struggled with her shot in Thursday’s win against the Las Vegas Aces. The 5-foot-8 guard shot the ball poorly in the first three quarters, going just 4-of-19 from the field for 12 points. Mitchell caught fire in the fourth, though. She went 4-of-5 in the final frame for nine points, finishing with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-24 shooting. This is exactly why head coach Stephanie White remains completely confident in Mitchell’s scoring ability. The veteran coach has made it clear that she has given Mitchell the green light to shoot the rock. “The biggest thing with Kelsey is just telling her, ‘Let it fly.’ It’s going to go,” White said after Thursday’s win against Las Vegas. "... Keep shooting it from outside. She made some big ones when we needed them.” Kelsey Mitchell Has Stepped up Amid Clark's Injury Mitchell has answered the call for the Fever of late. In the three games Clark has been sidelined, Mitchell has put up averages of 22.0 points on 42.9% shooting. She also knocked down 2.7 triples during that stretch on a 34.8% clip. The 29-year-old veteran will need to keep her foot on the gas on Sunday as the Fever try to take down the Sky at United Center. With Clark watching from the bench, the Fever will rely on Mitchell’s scoring against Chicago as they look to improve on their 13-12 record. The Fever and Sky meet at 3 p.m. ET Sunday on ABC.
Yankees not close to done adding ahead of trade deadline
The New York Yankees already made headlines by acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday. That may not be their only move ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. According to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the Yankees have an extensive shopping list. While a right-handed hitting infielder is a priority, New York is also looking for help in the rotation and bullpen. Acquiring McMahon may have contributed to the push for a right-handed hitting infielder. McMahon has struggled against left-handed pitching throughout his career, posting a .231/.307/.378 batting line in 1,079 plate appearances, hitting 34 homers and 35 doubles. Those struggles have been even more pronounced this year. McMahon is slashing .207/.289/.310 in 97 plate appearances against southpaws, with two homers and three doubles. Kirschner specifically listed Minnesota Twins utility man Willi Castro as someone the Yankees are targeting, whose career .260/.306/.399 batting line in 689 plate appearances against lefties would make him a solid complement to McMahon. Likewise, the club's pursuit of pitching makes sense. Marcus Stroman has been much better since returning from the injured list at the end of June, but he cannot be considered a reliable option. Rookie Will Warren has been inconsistent, and with Clarke Schmidt likely lost until 2027 due to Tommy John surgery, the rotation needs work. New York's relief corps may be further down the team's needs. While every contending team looks to bolster the bullpen ahead of the trade deadline, the Yanks' upgrades could come from within. Relievers Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. are expected back in August, while fellow reliever Yerry De los Santos was activated from the IL on Saturday. The Yankees still have a lot of work to do ahead of the trade deadline. It could be a busy next few days in the Bronx.
Who reportedly has 'lost ground' in Colts' QB competition
Free-agency signing Daniel Jones seemingly entered training camp as the favorite to win the Indianapolis Colts' starting quarterback job after third-year pro Anthony Richardson was shut down from throwing in late May when he experienced discomfort in his surgically repaired shoulder. However, James Boyd of The Athletic noted in an article posted on Monday that Jones "hasn’t done anything to separate himself from Richardson" heading into August. "If anything, Jones seems to have lost ground with the QB battle about even," Boyd continued. "...The only day one quarterback clearly outplayed the other was Friday, when Richardson went 8-of-11 passing with a couple of first-down throws and a handful of solid checkdowns. The latter have typically hindered Richardson in the past, so that he connected on those passes was a positive sign for his development. Jones, meanwhile, finished 6-of-10 passing Friday as Indy’s defensive backs were able to break up his passes." The Colts made it known they were serious about possibly naming Jones their 2025 Week 1 starter when they signed him to a one-year, $14M contract that's worth up to $17.7M and included $13.15M guaranteed this past March. That's understandable considering Richardson has hardly looked like a star when healthy and was limited to 15 starts out of 32 contests (outside of a two-game benching) over his first two NFL seasons. According to Pro Football Reference, Richardson finished the 2024 campaign ranked last in the league among qualified players with a 47.7 percent completion percentage and a 61.6 passer rating. That said, Jones' performances in July could cause some to worry that he won't be better than what he was when he went 3-13 over his final 16 starts with the New York Giants from September 2023 through last fall. For what it's worth, Jones ended the 2024 season ranked 35th out of 36 quarterbacks with a 79.4 passer rating. "Neither quarterback has lit it up on offense, evidenced by their unofficial stats, but for Jones to win the starting job, he’ll have to play a lot better," Boyd continued. "Otherwise, the Colts have no reason to start the 28-year-old Jones, who’s on a one-year deal, over the 23-year-old Richardson, who was drafted to blossom into the face of the franchise." As of Monday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook had Richardson at -130 betting odds to start Indianapolis' Week 1 game versus the Miami Dolphins over Jones (+102 odds). ESPN's Dan Graziano suggested in a piece published on Monday that he agrees with such forecasts. "Training camp is where Richardson looks the best," Graziano said about the fourth overall pick of the 2023 draft. "If he's healthy, he's likely to outperform Jones on the practice field. The Colts also have a lot more invested in Richardson, and if it's a close competition, most people I talk to believe that will tilt things in his favor -- at least to start the season." Indianapolis opens the preseason with a game at the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 7.
Aaron Rodgers’ True Colors Revealed at Training Camp After Offering Olive Branch to Terry Bradshaw
Chicago Blackhawks at Risk of Losing First Round Pick as Other Teams Pitch Big-Money Offers
Mason West is a talented prospect of the future for the Chicago Blackhawks, but it appears he may look to leave hockey for big opportunities in football. The Chicago Blackhawks landed Anton Frondell with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but it was perhaps their second first-round pick that drew the most intrigue, as they drafted centre Mason West out of the USHL. That pick was intriguing for many reasons, with the 6-foot-6 centre having potential with his talent and his physicality, but now, the team may be in danger of losing the talented 17-year old. According to a report from The Athletic, the No. 29 overall pick has been drawing interest from several NCAA programs to join their team as a football player. Standing at 6-foot-6, the Minnesota native is a star in both hockey and football, tallying 49 points in 31 games at the high school level while also being a star Quarterback, and after putting up 9 points in 10 USHL games with the Fargo Force, the future is bright for him in both sports. Ultimately, at 17-years of age, the future is very bright whichever way West ends up going, but given that the Blackhawks used a first-round pick on him in this past seasons draft, they're clearly confident that they can not only keep him in hockey, but make a good NHLer out of him moving forward.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
