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Ex Barcelona Star ‘Feels Sorry’ for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Inability to Move on From Lionel Messi Rivalry

Published 02/26/2024, 8:07 PM EST

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via Reuters

It’s all about winning games at the top level. And Cristiano Ronaldo has repeatedly proven that his competitive spirit plays a major role in his performance. But sometimes the emotions can get you off guard. And this time, his rivalry with Lionel Messi has evoked the wrong side. In his last match, Ronaldo took a jibe at opposition fans chanting Messi with an unwanted gesture, which did not go well with the experts worldwide. About the FC Barcelona icon, Christophe Dugarry feels that his presence has gotten on CR7’s nerves.

Both Messi and Ronaldo openly called off their rivalries recently. But it seems like the Portuguese captain found it hard to let his nemesis get out of his mind. Speaking on former PSG player Jerome Rothen’s show, Dugarry empathized with CR7’s situation. He said, “Ronaldo is still affected by the fact that he can be criticized against Messi. On one hand, I think it’s admirable because he’s still 100% into soccer, but on the other hand, I feel sorry for him because he’ll never give up in his life,” citing the recent events.

 

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Meanwhile, as an unstoppable force, this battle between the two icons rages on with no foreseeable end. It’s the crowds that have rekindled the spark once again, which did not go well with the Al Nassr captain. The opposition fans in Saudi did not miss an opportunity to bug Cristiano Ronaldo by chanting his longtime rival’s name. The incident took place recently after he scored a penalty against Al Shabab.

The crowd once again played the card, which led Ronaldo to show his frustration with an unusual and obscene gesture. Despite helping Al Nassr win, CR7 has received criticism and is reportedly expected to serve a ban along with a fine. Let’s dive deeper.

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Cristiano Ronaldo could face a setback if booked by the disciplinary committee

The 5x Ballon d’Or winner is on a mission to take Al Nassr to their maiden AFC Champions League title. However, reports suggest that the player could be disallowed for the next two matches for ‘unsportsmanlike‘ behavior. It is unclear whether the captain will miss two league games or it’s inclusive of every competition. That’s because Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League quarterfinal against Al Ain is on March 4.

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This could be a huge blow, as the star has started this year by scoring goals in every game he played. Luis Castro and Co. would have been planning every move with CR7’s presence in important fixtures. However, only time will reveal if the star makes it or is penalized for the moment when his emotions get the better of him. Ronaldo has yet to respond to the criticism of the incident.

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Written by:

Ruthu

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One take at a time

Ruthu is a Soccer Writer at EssentiallySports. Growing up in a sporting background, he found a passion for soccer through the remarkable 2002 World Cup-winning Brazilian team. Ruthu brings an out-of-the-box perspective with writing, as he possesses the ability to view the game from different critical angles, a skill that sets apart a sports journalist.
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Edited by:

Daniel D'Cruz