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Former Saudi Star Eviscerates Riyad Mahrez for Lacking Cristiano Ronaldo’s Passion

Published 11/07/2023, 11:37 AM EST

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via Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s greatest achievement is undoubtedly his unwavering passion for soccer. Despite his immense success and wealth, the 38-year-old still maintains the same drive to compete as he did in his yesteryears. With his 22-year-long career, the Portuguese superstar has created a benchmark for other players to look up to. For the same reason, fans often compare most emerging young players to Ronaldo. Recently, a former Saudi Arabian footballer verbally tore apart Al-Ahli player Riyad Mahrez for lacking passion like CR7.

Since Ronaldo made his big-money move to Al-Nassr, the Gulf world cannot stop praising the soccer legend. Now, many expect other Saudi players to follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo and be as passionate and dedicated as him. However, according to a Saudi star, players like Mahrez do not have the enthusiasm towards the sport that CR7 carries within.

Saudi star verbally slammed Riyad Mahrez for lacking passion like Cristiano Ronaldo

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Recently, the X account, Nawaf_STATS, tweeted the words of former Saudi Arabian footballer Hussein Abdulghani. Abdulghani compared Al-Ahli star Mahrez to Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo. He stated, “Riyad Mahrez does not have the passion. He should look at Ronaldo. Cristiano runs after the ball like a child. He has a very great passion, even though he does not need to achieve more titles and championships because he has won everything.”

According to Abdulghani, Ronaldo is already the greatest player of all time and has achieved every immaculate success. However, even nearing retirement, Ronaldo shows unimaginable dedication to the sport. The Saudi star feels that if every player had this kind of zest for the sport, they would be at the top of their game.

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Even though Abdulghani believes that Mahrez is not a skilled player, he has achieved remarkable victories in all the soccer clubs he was a part of. After he joined Leicester City, he helped them win the Premier League. In the 2015-16 season, Mahrez was the Algerian Footballer of the Year and the PFA Players’ Player of the Year. Even after all these achievements, Mahrez was not considered as passionate as Ronaldo by Abdulghani. Many, including Al-Ettifaq player Marcel Tisserand, believe no one can match the greatness of CR7.

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The Al-Ettifaq player holds CR7 in high regard!

In October, Al Ettifaq defender Marcel Tisserand said the Portuguese superstar was not in Saudi Arabia on vacation. According to him, the 38-year-old is committed to his sport and supports his teammates to do their best. Tisserand claims that Ronaldo’s game is top-notch, and even after being in his late thirties, he religiously follows a very healthy lifestyle.

READ MORE:  Joined Al Nassr 2 Years Before Cristiano Ronaldo’s $500 Million Arrival, 29YO Teammate’s Humble Beginnings and Battle Against Poverty Detailed

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Tisserand states that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner looks like he is 20 years old, which suggests that he is in fine physical condition. For him, Ronaldo is the perfect role model for himself and other footballers around the globe. He reinforces that CR7 is a global icon, and its presence in Saudi Arabia has had a positive impact on the country.

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Written by:

Priyanka

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Priyanka is a soccer content analyst and sports writer at EssentiallySports. Her journey into the beautiful game began by watching the mesmerizing Lionel Messi, as his impeccable vision on the pitch and role as a playmaker, meticulously calculating the path to goal always amazed her. This fascination with the finer details of soccer strategy naturally extended to her interest in content strategy.
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Edited by:

Jacob Gijy