Cristiano Ronaldo, who sits within reach of the 1,000 career goal milestone, met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a brief encounter where the official wished him luck in reaching the historic mark.
The interaction occurred during the Esports World Cup in Paris. Ronaldo greeted him, asking, “How are you?” Infantino responded, “23 goals remaining? Good luck!”
However, Cristiano Ronaldo’s gestures and facial expression as he walked away from Infantino generated divided opinions among fans, despite the good relationship both demonstrated in past encounters.
Ronaldo appears uncomfortable during exchange
Footage from the moment showed Ronaldo maintaining a serious and somewhat annoyed demeanor during the event, despite Infantino’s encouraging words. The Portuguese star held a stoic attitude throughout the meeting, creating a scene that quickly captured public attention.
The encounter took place as Infantino and FIFA navigate a difficult period, with multiple confederations requesting the removal of the governing body’s president.
While the interaction was brief, Ronaldo’s expression led many observers to view the meeting as a tense exchange between two of soccer’s most prominent figures.
What lies ahead for Ronaldo
The Portuguese forward will fly back to Saudi Arabia to report to his squad, Al-Nassr, ahead of Tuesday’s match on Aug. 25 against Al-Ettifaq. Ronaldo scored his first goal of the season last Friday in Al-Nassr’s 4-0 victory over Al-Riyadh, bringing his career total to 977 goals.
