SUMMARY
- Carlos Alcaraz is currently in Riyadh for the exhibition match against Novak Djokovic.
- The Spaniard made an honest confession during an interview, leading up to the match.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the biggest sporting icons in the world at present. The Portuguese star, along with his long-time rival, Lionel Messi, has changed the landscape of soccer. Both players have a huge fanbase, which includes tennis star Carlos Alcaraz as well.
The Spaniard is currently in Riyadh for an exhibition event. He will lock horns with his nemesis, Novak Djokovic, in the highly anticipated matchup on December 27. This tournament is being organized by the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia and is part of an initiative to popularize the sport.
When speaking to the media, Carlos candidly confessed that he did not know much about the city itself. Alcaraz added that he only knew that Ronaldo and Aymeric Laporte played for Al-Nassr. “I don’t know much about the city of Riyadh. All I know here is Al Nassr due to the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Aymeric Laporte,” he said.
Carlos Alcaraz (Tennis Player):
“I don’t know much about the city of Riyadh. All I know here is Al Nassr due to the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Aymeric Laporte”
— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) December 26, 2023
Cristiano made waves when he transferred to the Middle Eastern country after stints at Juventus and Manchester United. The winger played for Real Madrid previously and won several trophies with Los Blancos. The Wimbledon champion stated that while he did not follow Al-Nassr, he would follow Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is a hugely popular figure, and given how long he played for Real Madrid, it is unsurprising that Alcaraz follows him. Carlos paid homage to Ronaldo after he defeated Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Finals this year. The world number two signed ‘Siu’ on the camera as he advanced to the semifinals.
Siuuuu 🗣️@carlosalcaraz paying homage to Cristiano Ronaldo after his win 💪#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/pnU1Kp1EXC
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 17, 2023
Carlos Alcaraz has established himself as one of the best players in the current crop of players. However, his love for sports is not just limited to tennis. He is very passionate about soccer, too.
Carlos Alcaraz chooses between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
The young Spaniard has been on an inspirational journey since he made his debut. Like every other athlete, Carlos also looks up to a few people, including Messi and Ronaldo.
Messi has attained godlike status in the soccer world, thanks to his exploits on the pitch. The Argentine led his country to glory by winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Lionel took his former club, Barcelona FC, to greater heights before he shifted bases to the US.
Alcaraz spoke about his favorite soccer team and players. He emphasized that while he admires Ronaldo, Messi’s playing style is different.
“I am sincerely Cristiano (Ronaldo), but with Messi, I am not going to deny that they are one of the best in history. Messi has a different kind of football than Cristiano. For me, he has more variety,” he said (via Ole).
Carlos Alcaraz is set to take on Djokovic in the exhibition match. He will then head to Australia to play in the first Grand Slam of the year. The young Spaniard will hope to add more titles to his name this year.