Concerns have begun to surface as Cristiano Ronaldo is now grappling with fatigue, putting his availability for the AFC Champions League encounter against Iranian side Persepolis in jeopardy.
Ronaldo had a great outing in a recent league fixture against Al-Raed on Saturday, as Al-Nassr won 3-1 thanks to goals from Sadio Mane, Talisca, and Ronaldo himself, earning him a match rating of 7.8 as per Sofascore. However, following the game, Ronaldo felt some exhaustion that came from constantly giving his all on the field to catch up with him. His body, after a string of exceptional performances, began to show signs of fatigue.
This exhaustion proved to be more severe than initially thought, forcing Ronaldo to the sidelines just when his team needed him the most. If Ronaldo doesn’t feature in the game against Persepolis on Tuesday, it will be a significant blow to Al Nassr‘s chances against the Iranian side.
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Cristiano Ronaldo is suffering from fatigue, after putting in a great effort in the recent period.
[@a_altamimi11] pic.twitter.com/8Gtf9N7bgj
— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) September 17, 2023
The Portuguese icon is in a purple patch this season, with the Saudi Arabian side scoring goals for fun. With seven goals in just six games, he is currently the Saudi Pro League’s leading goal scorer. It is certain that if Ronaldo remains absent against Persepolis, it will leave a void that will be difficult to fill.
As for Al-Nassr, they had faced Persepolis thrice until now each where the Saudi-based club scored four goals while Persepolis managed only two. The two Asian titans split the third game equally after winning one game each. The Iranian team would enter the match with a five-game winning streak and is currently in first place in the Persian Gulf Pro League standings.
How the cameraman narrowly escaped the free kick of Cristiano Ronaldo
In a recent match against Al Raed, Ronaldo added another memorable moment to his illustrious career, but it wasn’t a goal or an assist that left the fans talking.
Cristiano Ronaldo was standing over a free-kick opportunity during the match against Al Raed, which was a familiar scene for him. With the goal in his sights, Ronaldo unleashed a free kick with such ferocity that it resembled a missile speeding towards its target.
Camera man almost KO’d from that Ronaldo free kick 😅 pic.twitter.com/JztXorb3Y7
— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) September 16, 2023
A cameraman who was diligently documenting the action of the match was directly in the path of the free kick as it soared towards the goal and narrowly missed its intended target. The potent shot quickly transformed into a fast-moving projectile that was headed straight for the cameraman.
That one is for the ESPN camera man 😂💀
— TRAP🪤😈 (@Tiiyabpatrick87) September 16, 2023
However, fans responded to the incident on social media by posting their thoughts and feelings. A fan jokingly said, “That one is for the ESPN cameraman”.
Another supporter remarked, “A lil curl, and it was a goal,” acknowledging that with just a tiny change in trajectory, the free-kick easily could have found the back of the net.
Ronaldo’s free-kick technique is characterized by his trademark power and precision. However, it’s been long since we last saw Ronaldo score a goal from a free kick compared to his on-field nemesis, Lionel Messi.
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