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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Portuguese icon moved to Middle East in 2023</li><li>Showing no sign of slowing down at 39</li><li>Has reacted angrily at time to terrace chants</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Lionel Messi taunts are 'really irking' Cristiano Ronaldo as expert offers future update on 'frustrated' Al-Nassr superstar

King Cup

Al Nassr FC

Al Khaleej

The Portuguese superstar became the first household name to head for the Saudi Pro League following his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ronaldo-on-purpose-man-utd-exit-strategy-stam-handled-better/blt9b32129c6b01c4a3" target="_blank">shock release by Manchester United</a>. Ronaldo made his way to the Middle East as a free agent in early 2023.

WHAT HAPPENED?

He is now 39 years of age, but is showing no sign of slowing down – with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/is-cristiano-ronaldo-still-champions-league-level-portugal-roberto-martinez-explains-38-year-old-totally-elite/bltf1fe5ca91bc0fea0" target="_blank">42 goals to his name this season.</a> The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has, however, been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-focused-job-ahead-more-lionel-messi-taunts-angry-reaction-al-nassr-defeat/blt4b5b8f17cc3092fd" target="_blank">subjected to “Messi” chants</a> from rival supporters on a regular basis – leading to him <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-banned-fined-vulgar-response-lionel-messi-taunts-al-nassr-suspension/blt0edd4384c01dddc9" target="_blank">serving a ban at one stage after delivering a crude response to his detractors</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo’s <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/cristiano-ronaldo-al-nassr-contract-how-much-will-ex-man-utd-star-earn-messi/bltc57d96f7a78774dd" target="_blank">contract is due to run until the summer of 2025</a>, with Saudi football expert Ben Jacobs expecting that deal to be honoured despite obvious frustration on the part of CR7.

DID YOU KNOW?

Jacobs has told <a href="https://talksport.com/football/1821831/cristiano-ronaldo-saudi-arabia-al-nassr-lionel-messi-chants/ " target="_blank">talkSPORT</a>: “I think he’ll do another season. I think Ronaldo still feels that he’s the one capitalising this. So there’s a personal aspect that feeds into maybe his ego that he started all of this. By the same token he’s frustrated. Al Nassr are second, they're out of the Saudi Super Cup, he got sent off late in a game against Al Hilal. And every time he does anything wrong, opposition fans are chanting the name ‘Leo Messi’. And that juxtaposition of Messi winning the World cup, Ronaldo being in Saudi Arabia, I think is really irking him. I expect him to do one more season, but quite clearly there's aspects out there now that are irritating Ronaldo. Particularly, and oddly at this stage of his career, when people are chanting the name Lionel Messi at him.”

WHAT EXPERT SAID ABOUT RONALDO

Ronaldo <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-ban-fine-disgraceful-behaviour-al-hilal-match-referee-al-nassr-excessive-force-red-card-elbow/blte9c546c7b9d60ed2" target="_blank">saw red in his latest appearance for Al-Nassr</a>, in a Saudi Super Cup semi-final defeat to Al-Hilal, and will now serve a suspension before returning to action in a King Cup of Champions clash with Al-Khaleej – as the legendary forward looks to add more major honours to his collection in 2024.

WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Lionel Messi taunts are 'really irking' Cristiano Ronaldo as expert offers future update on 'frustrated' Al-Nassr superstar | Goal.com United Arab Emirates

Lionel Messi taunts in Saudi Arabia are said to be “really irking” Cristiano Ronaldo, but he is expected to spend another season at Al-Nassr.

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