Cristiano Ronaldo narrowly avoided a potentially catastrophic injury after almost being taken out by an overzealous supporter.
The Portuguese superstar was going through his final pre-match preparations ahead of the Saudi Pro League leader’s clash with Al-Taawoun when he had to take evasive action to avoid a pitch invader who had slipped over at his feet.
Watching on as two stewards tried in vain to catch the supporter, the Portuguese stepped away just in time as he slipped over.
He looked on with a look of bafflement and surprise as the pitch invader was led away by the stewards, holding his arms aloft.
Footage from behind the pitch invader showed just how close he was to reaching Ronaldo. ‘Was he intentionally injuring Cristiano Ronaldo?!’ one supporter queried on social media.
Cristiano Ronaldo narrowly avoided a potentially catastrophic injury after a pitch invader slipped over at his feet
The Portuguese looked on in astonishment as the overzealous supporter was led away
Hailed as the most notable name to have arrived on the shores of the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo has experienced endless adulation since his arrival in the country last month.
At his first press conference, he watched on with a distinct look of awkwardness as a journalist in the room shouted Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siuuu’ celebration back at him.
Ronaldo’s run ins with pitch invaders has not been strictly limited to his time in the Middle East.
While playing for Juventus, Ronaldo shouted at a supporter who had run on to try and take a selfie with him after he grabbed him aggressively on the shoulder.
At the World Cup, with Ronaldo departing the stage in tears for potentially the last time with Portugal having been knocked out by Morocco, Qatari stewards just in time reached a child who had tried to take a photo with the national team captain.
This incident ahead of their clash with Al-Taawoun, which they won 2-1 thanks to goals from Abdulrahman Ghareeb and Abdullah Madu, is the latest episode in the adulation that is being foisted upon the Portuguese.
It is the latest episode of the wild adulation that has been foisted upon the Portuguese since his arrival in the Middle East
Ronaldo, who recorded two assists in the game, expressed his delight at the team’s performance and them going top of the league.
‘Top of the league and three important points! Great team work!’ he wrote.
Al-Nassr are currently on a three-match unbeaten run having been knocked out of the Saudi Super Cup at the semi-final stage by Al-Ittihad last month.
They face mid-table Damac in their next game on February 25.
