Originally compiled from: The Athletic
Written by Wael Jabir
原标题：Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr：“Messi” taunts and a Saudi legacy in the balance
In the blink of an eye, Ronaldo has been in Saudi Arabia for more than four months, and we can't make up our minds about his choice, but no matter where he goes, "Messi" is a name he can never escape and can't dodge.
GOAT arrived, and the off-market profit turned over
Ronaldo experienced a difficult ending in 2022: he first terminated his contract with Manchester United ungracefully, and then ungracefully stopped at the World Cup 1/4 final, and it is likely that he will not win the Hercules Cup in his life.
But at the beginning of 2023, Ronaldo is surrounded by the adoration of millions of people. When he arrived in Riyadh, he enjoyed cheers and applause like an eternal idol. It is true that he has left the Premier League and the Champions League, but in this new club and league, Ronaldo has been respected by the royal family - the "respect" he wants most.
Since the 1978 World Cup winner Riverino joined Riyadh Crescent, the Saudi capital has not seen such a lively scene. Billboards "Welcome Cristiano Ronaldo" line the roads as the five-time Ballon d'Or winner arrives at his new home stadium, Mrsool Park, in front of 23,000 fans. At the same time, the self-proclaimed prestigious club is finally gaining worldwide visibility.
The official video of Ronaldo's speech released by Riyadh Victory has been watched by millions of people around the world. In the three months since, the club's Instagram account has skyrocketed from 800,000 followers to more than 14 million, compared with 3.9 million for their derby rival Riyadh Crescent.
Ronaldo has not only made a huge impact on social media. Although ticket prices have almost quadrupled, from 50 riyals (£10.75) to 138 riyals, the average number of home crowds at Riyadh's victory has grown from 16,700 in the first half of the season to 21,900 now!
Each of their away trips attracted about three times as many away fans, and the average attendance of opponents increased from 8,160 to 23,240. Even throughout the region, from Dubai on the Persian Gulf coast to Casablanca on the Atlantic coast, Riyadh Victory's No. 7 jersey has become the hallmark of every sportswear store.
Cristiano Ronaldo is scoring goals, the team is slipping
On the pitch, however, things are a little different. Many fans and experts predicted that Cristiano Ronaldo would dominate the Saudi league, but it took him 180 minutes to open his goal account: a last-minute penalty for the club's second game.
The following week, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored his big four in a 4-0 away win over Vinda, fans could finally be ecstatic. In his three months, the president scored 11 goals in 10 games and won the Saudi League Player of the Month once.
However, the team's results are declining. Before Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival, Riyadh Victory was three points ahead of the league table. But in the 10 games since Ronaldo joined, they have drawn 3 and lost 1, 3 points behind Jeddah, and 1 more game. Riyadh triumphantly traded Cameroonian striker Abubacar for one of the greatest players of all time, only to find himself falling behind. So, the question began to surface.
Hiding in Saudi Arabia, you can't hide from Messi
When he led the team as captain, the away fans did not stop chanting "Messi, Messi!" Ronaldo listened, obviously very upset, after losing the Riyadh derby in the last round, he was suspected of making a "crotch" action in response. And during the competition, his lock throat hug also caused great controversy.
Judging by Ronaldo's demeanor, when he came to Saudi Arabia from Europe, he did not expect to be so hostile here. Many fans of Riyadh's victory believe that Ronaldo is only the club's second most important player, adding to his frustration.
Brazilian star Talisca, who once played in the Chinese Super League, quickly conquered fans after joining in 2021, gained heroic status, has scored 16 goals this season, is the team's top scorer, and is considered by many to be more important than Cristiano Ronaldo.
The president drove away the coach again?
Then, there is the change in management. Former Brazil international and Bayern midfielder Gustavo has had heated exchanges with manager Rudi Garcia, while reports have suggested that Ronaldo is also unhappy with the Frenchman's management.
Club president Moussali Muammar did not hesitate to pull the trigger and Garcia's 286 days in charge were over, although he was the longest of the five coaches who left class in the past two years.
Croatian coach Jelicic of the Under-19 youth team has been appointed interim manager. Former Wolves boss and Cristiano Ronaldo's compatriot Bruno Lager is the favourite for the new manager – a choice that could be approved by the captain.
With just six league games left, Riyadh Victory will also face Vidah in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. The good news is that they still have title hopes and are four points ahead of their arch-rivals Riyadh Crescent. The bad news is that Riyadh Crescent has reached the AFC Champions League final for the fifth time in eight years and has also finished second in the Club World Cup this year.
Riyadh Victory also wants to play in the AFC Champions League and also wants to participate in the Club World Cup, so it must be won this season. Therefore, Ronaldo must also step up in the sprint stage of the season and prove his value on the field.