Lionel Messi has surprised everyone by sending an unexpected message to Al-Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari after the latter recreated the Argentine’s iconic celebration when lifting the 2022 World Cup trophy, but this time to provoke Cristiano Ronaldo.
Al Hilal’s captain recreating Messi’s 2022 World Cup celebration while the fans chant Messi’s name. pic.twitter.com/vWcYmfwN0K
— BeksFCB (@Joshua_Ubeku) August 17, 2024
The incident occurred after Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr side suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup final. During the trophy presentation, Salem Al-Dawsari was not content with just the victory and decided to add to Ronaldo’s humiliation by imitating Messi’s celebration in Qatar, swaying back and forth before lifting the trophy.
This gesture, a clear provocation, came in a context where Al-Hilal fans had already been chanting Messi’s name throughout the match, especially when Al-Hilal scored their fourth goal, prompting a furious reaction from Ronaldo, who angrily gestured towards his teammates, accusing them of “being asleep.”
In response to the recreation of his celebration, Messi sent a brief but meaningful message to Al-Dawsari: “Mutual admiration in sport is key to inspiring the next generation. We all play for passion and respect.” This message has been interpreted by many as a reminder that, despite rivalries, respect between great players must always prevail.
The Saudi Super Cup defeat deprived Ronaldo of what would have been his second title since arriving in Saudi Arabia, having won the Arab Club Champions Cup last year. However, this provocative gesture from the Al-Hilal captain and Messi’s subsequent reaction have added another chapter to the growing rivalry between the two titans of world football.
