During the match at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Ronaldo fell inside the penalty box without any contact from an Al Ain player. Afterward, the host team's X social media account posted a photo of CR7 lying on the pitch with the caption: "It seems the grass at Al Ain is truly irresistible."

The UAE club's action generated varied opinions. Thousands of people liked and shared the photo, simultaneously mocking Ronaldo. "How pitiful. He seems to be sleep-deprived. Let him sleep," one Al Ain fan wrote.

However, many, especially Ronaldo's fans, reacted sharply. They advised Al Ain against overly aggressive behavior, recalling Al Nassr's 5-1 victory over Al Ain in a Champions League qualifier two seasons ago. "The grass in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) once made you sleep five times," one person retorted.

Ronaldo passes the ball during Al Nassr's 0-4 loss to Al Ain in the AFC Champions League qualifier on 15/9, in Al Ain, UAE. *Photo: AFP*

In the recent match, Ronaldo also sparked controversy for tackling Matias Palacios, who was marking him, without receiving a penalty. Some opinions suggested the referee should have issued a red card or at least a yellow card to the Portuguese superstar. Many also accused league officials of being bribed.

"If Messi did that, Ronaldo's fans would demand his expulsion and complain that FIFA was helping him," one person commented on Youtube.

The opening match of the AFC Champions League qualifier was a disastrous start for Al Nassr. Ronaldo and his teammates failed to create real pressure, attacked ineffectively, and managed only three shots on target. In contrast, Soufiane Rahimi scored a hat-trick for Al Ain in the 25th, 63rd, and 72nd minutes, before Giorgos Giagoumakis sealed the 4-0 victory in the 85th minute.

After the match, Al Nassr fans expressed anger mixed with disappointment, using the word "pitiful" to describe Ronaldo's performance. They urged the management to act swiftly, review the future of some key players, and strengthen the squad. "Simakan and Ronaldo need to be re-evaluated," one fan wrote.

Coach Ange Postecoglou also became a focal point of criticism. Many Al Nassr fans believed the coach, who previously managed Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, failed to make the expected impact and lacked clear solutions in both defense and attack. Moreover, they suggested Postecoglou's indifferent expression during the match against Al Ain demonstrated complete tactical helplessness.

Al Nassr has won only one of their four recent matches. Previously, Ronaldo and his teammates lost 1-2 to Al Ittihad and drew 1-1 with Al Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League, consequently falling to third place.

By Thanh Quy