Cristiano Ronaldo five UCL gesture goes viral after Al Ahli fans' Asian titles jibe
Former Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was seen responding to Al Ahli fans with a five UCL title gesture after his side’s 2-0 victory over league rivals Al Ahli. The match, which had moments of controversy, saw Ronaldo score his 970th career goal to seal the win, helping his team move eight points clear of second-placed Al Hilal.
Following the game, while Ronaldo was attending to his post-match media duties, Al Ahli fans began mocking him and his club over their lack of major trophies. Al Ahli had recently secured their second AFC Champions League Elite title after defeating Japanese side Machida Zelvia 1-0 after extra time. In contrast, Ronaldo’s club, Al Nassr, are still without a trophy since his arrival in 2023.
However, Ronaldo quickly responded to the chants with a hand gesture showing five fingers while shouting “five UCLs” with a grin. “I’ve five,” he was heard saying in a now-viral video circulating on social media.
“I have five,” he said, referencing to his UEFA Champions League titles. Ronaldo was part of the Real Madrid side that completed a three-peat of the Champions League between 2016 and 2019. He won four Champions League titles with Real Madrid, while one with Manchester United.
The moment immediately sparked widespread reactions online. Some fans defended Ronaldo and mocked the Al Ahli supporters for targeting the Portuguese star, while others criticised the gesture, calling it unnecessary provocation. The incident added another layer of drama to an already heated rivalry between the clubs.
The controversy had been fuelled by Al Ahli defender and Turkiye international Merih Demiral, who reportedly accused Al Nassr of influencing refereeing decisions during their push for a first league title since the 2018/19 season. His frustration was heightened after Al Nassr winger Kingsley Coman only received a yellow card for a heavy challenge, which led to a tense exchange between players and staff on the pitch, involving nearly 10 players in a brief melee.
Demiral had also brought his AFC Champions League medal to the stadium before kickoff and was seen displaying it around the ground. He later posted on social media: “For the first time, there’s a Champions League medal in their stadium.”
Ronaldo was also spotted celebrating in front of English striker Ivan Toney, marking their first notable on-field interaction since Toney had previously questioned the integrity of Saudi officiating, adding further intensity to the post-match atmosphere. Al Nassr are now only two points away from the Saudi Pro League title. They next play two games away from home in the league before hosting title rivals Al Hilal.
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