(CNN) — Celebrated Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored hundreds of goals in his career, always celebrates by running to the corner flag to perform his iconic “Siu” celebration, pirouetting through the air before landing in a position of strength.
But after scoring a decisive goal for his Saudi club Al Nassr in a 3-2 win against Al-Shabab, Ronaldo celebrated with a similar gesture to his home Arabs: a “Sajdah”, the bow or low prostration that Muslim footballers usually do after scoring.
After the winning goal – which the Saudi media described as “his best goal since arriving in Saudi Arabia” – Ronaldo bowed to the ground surrounded by his Al Nassr teammates, who wore yellow jerseys and who cheered along with the fans present in the stadium.
His gesture went viral on social media, sparking a whirlwind of comments from fans across the region.
“Cristiano Ronaldo’s joy with the third goal and his prostration before God in gratitude,” Ali Alabdallah, a Saudi sports correspondent, tweeted to his 411,000 followers.
“May God guide your heart to Islam,” he added in the video’s caption.
Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo bows after scoring a goal during the match between Al Nassr and Al-Shabab on May 23.
Many others were delighted with the victory and the gesture that accompanied it, wishing the star player future success.
The movement, which includes leaning towards the ground and touching the grass with the forehead, is a celebratory gesture performed mainly by Muslim footballers.
Liverpool’s Egyptian striker Mo Salah has done it repeatedly after scoring a goal.
It is also part of standardized Islamic prayer, which is traditionally practiced facing the “qibla,” or the direction of the Kaaba in the holy Saudi city of Mecca.
Ronaldo joined Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr last year. The acquisition of him is part of a bid by the kingdom to revamp its global image and expand its economy beyond oil and gas.
2023-05-26 22:23:00
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