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'Sheikh' Ronaldo trolled as Al-Nassr star wields sword, dances in traditional thobe on Saudi Founding Day

By Sunita IyerFirst Published Feb 23, 2023, 12:47 PM IST
Highlights

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated Saudi Arabia Founding Day with Al-Nassr teammates and coach Rudi Garcia on February 22, and fans and trolls can't get enough of the Portuguese talisman's dance moves.

Legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who signed for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr last December, has adapted to life in the Middle Eastern country, and fans caught a glimpse of the Portuguese superstar getting a taste of the nation's tradition on Wednesday. The 38-year-old striker celebrated the Saudi Arabia Founding Day on February 22 with his Al-Nassr teammates and coach Rudi Garcia in the club's home ground to mark the special day.

February 22 marks Saudi Arabia's founding, which occurred about three centuries ago when Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Bin Muhammad Bin Muqrin, the royal family's great-grandfather, founded the first Saudi state at Diriyah.

Also read:ย Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? Chelsea legend Joe Cole chooses his true G.O.A.T.

Taking to social media, Ronaldo shared a video of himself dressed in the traditional crisp white Saudi thobe as the Portuguese legend enjoyed his day dancing to the beats of Arabic music. Over the thobe, he was seen sporting a daglah with a navy blue and gold design.ย 

CR7 matched the footsteps of traditional dancers as he wielded a sword with the Saudi Arabia flag draped around his shoulders. The Al-Nassr squad shared a smile as they cherished performing the Ardah with swords and songs. The footballers could be seen drinking traditional Arabic coffee in one of the videos shared.

"Happy Founding Day to Saudi Arabia. [It] was a special experience to participate in the celebration at @alnassr_fc," wrote Ronaldo in the caption of his post on Instagram and Twitter, which has won the hearts of several CR7 fans.

Happy founding day to Saudi Arabia ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
Was a special experience to participate in the celebration at ! pic.twitter.com/1SHbmHyuez

โ€” Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano)

Calling the Portuguese star 'Sheikh Ronaldo' or 'Sheikh CR7', several fans poured their love for the Al-Nassr star. Notably, Saudi Arabian supporters welcomed the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to their nation.

"We are proud of you, our world legend, Cristiano Ronaldo," noted one Saudi Arabian on Twitter, while another added, "The greatest player in the world, celebrate with the greatest club in the world, for the greatest country in the world."

"Two great figures met The greatness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The greatness of the legend Cristiano Ronaldo," said a third user from the Gulf nation, while a fourth added, "Not just a player but an ambassador."

Also read:ย Revealed: How Ronaldo inspired Al-Nassr squad to follow stricter diet and intense training schedule

However, a few football enthusiasts and Ronaldo fans were unimpressed with the striker joining the Saudi Founding Day celebrations. "Saudi bought this man with his right. He will do anything they want him to do," wrote one user, while another added, "Iย don't respect you anymore because you are acting like a circus monkey for money. You didn't share anything about Turkey Earthquake. You will always be in Messi's shadow!"

A third unimpressed fan noted, "Seeing your GOAT reduced to this is something I wouldn't wish on anyone," while a fourth stated, "Man is 1 billion riyal away from being Islamo Ronaldo."

Here's a look at some of the memes and reactions to Ronaldo's latest video celebrating Saudi Arabia's Founding Day:

When are you going to wear graduation gown like king Leo Messi ๐Ÿ‘‘

Oh sorry, youโ€™re never going to complete football https://t.co/JKoK2QK02t pic.twitter.com/4Hdg0ZBoKC

โ€” Nameless Man ๐Ÿ†// POTTER OUT (@_nameless_man__)

ุงุญู„ู‰ ู…ู† ูŠุญุชูู„ ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ’› pic.twitter.com/AePq3TARY9

โ€” ุจูŠุงู† ุงู„ู†ุตุฑ (@ByanNassr)

ู‚ุงู…ุชูŠู† ุนุธูŠู…ุฉ ุงุฌุชู…ุนุช
ุนุธู…ุฉ
ูˆุนุธู…ุฉ ุงู„ุงุณุทูˆุฑุฉ

Two great figures met
The greatness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The greatness of the legend Cristiano Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/eDT8gGznEl

โ€” ุณุนูŠุฏ ุงู„ุนุฏูˆุงู†ูŠ (@Saeed_Aladwany)

ุฃุนุธู… ู„ุงุนุจ ููŠ ุงู„ุนุงู„ู… ๐Ÿ
ูŠุญุชูู„ ู…ุน ุฃุนุธู… ู†ุงุฏูŠ ุจุงู„ุนุงู„ู… ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’™
ู„ุฃุฌู„ ุฃุนุธู… ุฏูˆู„ุฉ ููŠ ุงู„ุนุงู„ู… ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ’š

The greatest player in the world ๐Ÿ

Celebrate with the greatest club in the world ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’™

For the greatest country in the world ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ’š pic.twitter.com/qkZDvBO9W1

โ€” ุญู…ุฏ ุงู„ู…ุชุนุงู†ูŠ Hamad Almutaani (@hamadmtn)

Looks like heโ€™s fitting in well! And enjoying learning about a different culture.

Living like a king i bet ๐Ÿ˜Š https://t.co/jiWgqORjq2

โ€” Jenny Latheef #RiseRT ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ป (@LitmusTimes)

i don't respect you anymore. because you acting like a circus monkey for money. you didn't share anything about Turkey Earthquake. you will always be in messi's shadow! https://t.co/meQ5Dns82J

โ€” TAKAO (@callmetakao)

Saudi bought this man with his right ๐Ÿคญ he will do anything they want him to do. https://t.co/XETUirkkeY

โ€” AFOLABI (@Afowdafow)

https://t.co/aAy5k2cojD pic.twitter.com/pDKLHFWZO3

โ€” d (@benziabahce)

Am still waiting for this part of the video tho๐Ÿ˜Œ https://t.co/ASEUC7kICE pic.twitter.com/F7Mhm6QiXC

โ€” SANTAN kidโœจ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ’ซ๐Ÿ•ธ๏ธ๐Ÿ•ท๏ธ (@RazleTannoh_10)

Same energy https://t.co/bM5uk7AAN9 pic.twitter.com/nzHfeOLPc0

โ€” aiman nordin (@aimannordinn)

Man is 1 billion riyal away from being Islamo Ronaldo https://t.co/4IqNQYJ5yh

โ€” Zulhilmi Nizam (@A_Packs)

Ronaldo mn hi mn me : https://t.co/hDgrgXiGDT pic.twitter.com/Py7vPTAofC

โ€” ูฐ (@Kiizer_Soze)

Lmao all because of the Bisht.... https://t.co/ohOiw37T2y pic.twitter.com/rCbU4GGJh8

โ€” Atsu ๐Ÿ˜ญ (@ifoK_KinG)

Sheikh Cristiano in da house https://t.co/IZwpC1emQi

โ€” Godfrey๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น (@SchoolofSantos)
click me!