The Scottish defender, Hendry, clashed with Portuguese icon Ronaldo in a recent match between Al-Nassr and Al-Ettifaq. As the game neared its end, they grappled for control, their arms entangled in a heated scrap.
Despite Al-Nassr’s narrow 1-0 victory, Ronaldo sought a free-kick as Hendry stood firm, leading to evident frustration from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Both players refused to yield, escalating the tension.
At the final whistle, rather than dismissing his domestic rival, Ronaldo willingly exchanged shirts, showing no resentment.
Reflecting on the encounter with BBC Sport, Hendry expressed his satisfaction at facing a player of Ronaldo’s caliber. He acknowledged Ronaldo’s incredible achievements and described the tussle as enjoyable, highlighting the post-match jersey swap as a memento of their battle.
Hendry, having moved from Club Brugge to Al-Ettifaq, now joins the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson. He speaks positively of his time in Saudi Arabia and the Pro League’s caliber, predicting its continuous growth. Anticipating a strong league aiming for the 2034 World Cup, he envisions it becoming one of the world’s premier football leagues.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
This season he played in total 12 times for 1076 minutes for Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 12 goals for Al Nassr. He procured 7 assists. He received no yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 2nd in Pro League. In the last match Al Nassr won 3-1 against Al Wahda. The next match in Pro League will be against Al Akhdoud.
Al Nassr performance and stats
Al Nassr is currently 2nd in the Pro League with 31 points.
In the last 13 games, it has won 10 times, drawn once, and lost twice. In its last match, Al Nassr won 1-3 against Al Wahda.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 36 goals and conceding 15.
Al Nassr will play the next match in Pro League against Al Akhdoud on Wednesday 22nd of November in Riyadh.