Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Al Nassr, Juventus
Josh Lawless
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Al Nassr, Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo often thrives off the hate and when he was told he is hated in Argentina, he produced a typical response.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's glorious playing career will always be synonymous with rival Lionel Messi and even though there's a mutual respect between the two greats, many fans have picked sides.
Ronaldo will regularly be taunted with 'Messi' chants in games, whether that be playing for Portugal or Al Nassr.
Advert
And in 2020, Paulo Dybala, who has had the special privilege of playing with both superstars, revealed that he told Ronaldo that he was not thought of too fondly by Argentines during their time playing at Juventus.
However, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid sensation wasn't fazed in the slightest.
“On a personal level, I was surprised for good because I did not know him, none of us knew anything about him," he told DAZN.
Advert
"Even in the previous Champions League, we were knocked out against Real Madrid and there had been many crosses.
“But then we found something else, he is an excellent guy, very sociable and friendly inside and outside the locker room. "Always ready to talk, to listen, which surprised me, being an important figure, they are not always like that.
"Once I sat down to talk to him, we were travelling. I said 'look, if I'm honest, we in Argentina hate you a bit, because of your personality, your way of being, then you really surprised me because I found something else'.
“He laughed because he said 'I know that's the way it is, but I know how I am, I'm used to being criticised for that’.”
Advert
Ronaldo and Dybala formed a friendship in Turin, with the two memorably combining their two celebrations together after scoring.
And though most Argentines might not be a fan of him, Ronaldo's other half Georgina Rodriguez is from the South American country.
Neither Ronaldo or Messi are playing in Europe at the moment but have both achieved success in winning the Arab Club Champions Cup and Leagues Cup respectively.
Advert
Ronaldo's Al Nassr are back in action against Al Fateh on Friday, while Messi makes his MLS debut on Saturday night against New York Red Bulls.