In the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli on Friday, Cristiano Ronaldo displayed an intense emotional reaction towards the referee that caught everyone’s attention. Despite scoring twice and contributing to his team’s thrilling 4-3 victory, the 38-year-old superstar’s outburst raised eyebrows.

During the second half, Ronaldo rushed over to the referee to protest a decision and appeared as though he might confront the official physically. Strangely, he positioned both of his arms behind his back, lowered his head, and unleashed a barrage of verbal abuse at the referee. In response, the referee sternly wagged his finger at Ronaldo before walking away.

While Ronaldo’s passionate reaction added entertainment value to the match, it didn’t sit well with fans on social media. Many criticized his behavior as “unprofessional” and “rude,” with one person even dubbing him “the most disliked footballer on the planet.”

One fan expressed their frustration, saying, “This is so unprofessional. He’s so rude. Cant be my GOAT.” Another wondered “How didn’t he get booked for that? Disgusting behaviour.”

Another observer remarked, “He’s 38-years-old yet he’s acting like a spoiled teenager,” while a fourth commenter echoed the sentiment, calling Ronaldo “He has got to be the most dislikeable footballer on the planet.” A fifth person agreed, questioning “So true. Why do people let him get away with stuff like this?”

Setting aside his tantrum, Ronaldo had a productive day on the field. He opened the scoring just four minutes into the game with a powerful low shot from the corner of the penalty area, although the vision of former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was obstructed by a smoke canister that had been set off by home fans.

Talisca extended Al-Nassr’s lead, but former Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie pulled one back for Al-Ahli. Talisca then added another goal for Al-Nassr in first-half stoppage time, and Manchester City icon Riyad Mahrez converted a penalty for Al-Ahli’s second goal.

Ronaldo notched his second goal of the night just two minutes later, smashing the ball into the net from the edge of the box. Late in the game, Feras Albrikan scored a goal for Al-Ahli, putting Al-Nassr’s nerves to the test. However, Al-Nassr managed to hold on and secure their fifth consecutive league victory.

This result propelled them to fifth place in the league table, trailing Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq by one point and the league leaders Al-Ittihad by three points. Ronaldo’s goals in this match brought his season tally to 15 goals, and since joining Al-Nassr nine months ago, he has scored a total of 29 goals.