In a recent tweet by prominent journalist Fabrizio Romano, the focus was squarely on Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez. The tweet highlighted Ronaldo’s recent accomplishment with Al-Nassr in the Arab Club Championship Cup. Alongside this, Romano also highlighted Rodriguez’s appearance on the cover of VOGUE magazine.
Notably, Romano included the hashtag “#ad”, signaling that the tweet was sponsored content. This detail hinted at a potential financial arrangement, likely involving Ronaldo’s team. However, this inclusion sparked a flurry of reactions among fans.
Supporters of Lionel Messi took the opportunity to poke fun at Ronaldo, suggesting that he had paid Romano for the coverage. Conversely, Ronaldo’s fan base criticized Romano for seemingly exploiting Ronaldo’s name for engagement.
Bro can’t appreciate Ronaldo’s title win. But need his name to get click for ads. Shame.
CRISTIANO:
"It's normal that people speak about me, because when you talk about Cris you get the front page the next day." pic.twitter.com/5QDrH6YhcL
— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) August 20, 2023
The origin of the sponsorship remained shrouded in uncertainty, whether it was VOGUE, Ronaldo’s team, or the Riyad-based brand LAVERNE—featured alongside Georgina on the VOGUE cover. Amidst the confusion, various parties took shots at Romano for his involvement in the advertisement. Paradoxically, this uproar only served to amplify the tweet’s visibility, garnering nearly 10 million views.
Romano rarely uses his Twitter account for promotional content. Hence, this occurrence stands as an exceptional event. Given this unusual situation, one can speculate that the compensation Romano received for this advertisement was quite substantial.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and Mumbai City FC in the AFC Champions League group stage draw
The AFC Champions League, widely regarded as Asia’s premier soccer competition, is gearing up for its group stage draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on August 24.
Scheduled to unfold between September 2023 and May 2024, this marks the 21st iteration of the competition. The tournament will consist of ten groups, each comprising four teams. These teams will be categorized into two distinct zones: the West zone and the East zone.
As the pieces fall into place, it’s noteworthy that Mumbai FC, reigning champions of the Indian Super League (ISL), find themselves in Pot 3 within the West Zone. However, Al-Nassr will confirm its position in Pot 4 of the same West Zone if they defeat UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli.
🔜 A huge match for Ronaldo's Al-Nassr tomorrow as they take on Dubai's Shabab Al Ahli in a play-off for AFC Champions League qualification.
🏆 AFC Champions League (Qualifier)
🆚 Shabab Al Ahli 🇦🇪
🏟️ Al-Awwal Park (H)
🗓️ 22nd Aug
🕖 8:20pm local, 7:20 CET pic.twitter.com/P5npZA78Im— MessivsRonaldo.app (@mvsrapp) August 21, 2023
This positioning in different pots could potentially align the fate of these two teams. A possibility arises where both Mumbai FC and Al-Nassr could land in the same group, designated from Groups A to E. An intriguing consequence could be the chance for Cristiano Ronaldo to make an appearance in India for a group-stage match.
Within the West Zone, four former champions are vying for supremacy: Al Hilal SFC and Al Ittihad hailing from Saudi Arabia, Al Ain FC representing the United Arab Emirates, and Al Sadd SC flying the flag for Qatar. These formidable sides aim to reclaim the illustrious Continental crown.
Turning to the East zone, the landscape is equally captivating. Among the participants, the group stage features former champions such as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, Ulsan Hyundai FC, and Pohang Steelers. The defending champions from Japan and Urawa Red Diamonds are also set to showcase their mettle.