Cristiano Ronaldo became the center of attention once again after footage of him giving himself a pep talk before a crucial free kick went viral — only for the attempt to end in disappointment.
During Al-Nassr’s 2-1 loss to Al-Ittihad in the King Cup of Champions, the 40-year-old Portuguese star was seen mouthing words of encouragement before taking a last-minute free kick. Some fans claimed he said, “You will score,” in an effort to motivate himself.
However, the strike didn’t go as planned, as Ronaldo’s shot crashed into the wall and deflected out for a corner, which led to nothing.
The clip quickly spread on social media, drawing mixed reactions from fans. One user joked, “Words of affirmation don’t bend free-kicks,” while another wrote, “Ronaldo thought he was going to score a last-minute free kick like Messi did with Inter Miami.”
Others defended the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, with one supporter saying, “He’s motivating himself. What’s the hate for?”
Despite the miss, Ronaldo has continued to be one of Al-Nassr’s top performers this season, scoring seven goals and providing two assists so far.
Al-Nassr will look to bounce back when they face Al-Feiha on Saturday.
