Is Cristiano Ronaldo getting deported from Saudi Arabia?

Last January, Cristiano Ronaldo joined the Saudi club Al-Nassr, and judging by the over-the-top welcoming ceremony the team gave him, life in Riyadh was going to be kind to the Portuguese striker. But it seems the enthusiasm for the star in Saudi Arabia has given way to criticism and controversy.

Lately, the Portuguese-international's behavior has been a problem in the Islamic monarchy. To the point where voices are rising in the country to demand his deportation...

On April 18, Al-Nassr traveled to the grounds Saudi championship rivals Al-Hilal to play an crucial match in the race for the Saudi Pro League title. It was a fairly unremarkable game for the veteran forward, but for a blunder in the 57ᵉ minute of the match.

Trying to recover the ball to advance towards the opposing goal, the striker found himself in an aerial duel with Colombian midfielder Gustavo Cuellar. Losing his temper, the Portuguese "choked" the Al-Hilal player with his arms, before throwing him to the ground. A maneuver more fitting for an octagon than a football pitch.

But the referee did not consider this action to be so serious, since the former Real Madrid striker ultimately only received a yellow card. A decision that surprised the spectators.

Although this was a bad look for Ronaldo, it's not what has got him into serious trouble in Saudi Arabia. A second incident, which occurred at the end of the match, has been viewed as so serious it could lead to his arrest and exile from the country.

At the end of the match, won 2-0 by Al-Hilal, Cristiano Ronaldo left the field touching his private parts, while the supporters of the opposing team chanted the name 'Leo Messi'. The gesture was described as obscene and seen as an attack on Al-Hilal supporters. While in Western countries the gesture may not have been a huge shock, it's something that does not pass at all in Saudi Arabia, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

Following this gesture, the Saudi lawyer Nouf bin Ahmed declared that she was going to file a complaint against Cristiano Ronaldo for "a crime of public indecency".

"Cristiano Ronaldo's behavior is a crime. A publicly indecent act, which is one of the crimes required for arrest and deportation [from the country], if committed by a foreigner. We will submit a request to the public prosecutor in this regard", posted the lawyer on her Twitter account.

On the side of Al-Nassr, it is explained that the player made this gesture because of a blow received in the groin. In an official statement, the Saudi club claims that its attacking star suffered a crotch injury during his aerial duel with Gustavo Cuella.

But the Saudis don't seem to buy the club's explanations. On social media, many have joined a movement called "Fire this fan abuser", calling on the leaders of the Saudi professional football league to sanction the player.

This controversy comes as Cristiano Ronaldo is already facing criticism for his on-field performance. The 38-year-old striker isn't as decisive as he once was, and has scored just three times in his club's last seven games.

Eliminated in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup, Al-Nassr is still in the running to win the championship. In second place in the Saudi Pro League standings, the club is only three points behind the first, Al-Ittihad, with one game to come. The team's recent poor performance has club officials worried, and it's Rudi Garcia (pictured) who has paid the price. The French coach was fired from his post on April 13.

Frustrated by the situation, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner appeared very annoyed after his side's draw with Al-Feiha in early April. In March, a video showed the player forcefully kicking a bottle after his side lost in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup.

While it looks like his frustrations could be with his team and his own performance, there are suggestions that trouble in his personal life may be impacting the striker's mental resolve. According to Portuguese media, Cristiano Ronaldo and his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez are going through a crisis.

For several months, rumors of an alleged crisis between the footballer and the influencer have been swelling. Recently, journalist Daniel Nascimento insinuated in the talk show "Noite das Estrelas", broadcast on the Portuguese channel CMTV, that Cristiano Ronaldo would be "tired" of the behavior of his wife, who "would only spend, spend, spend and spend".

Between the latest controversies related to his behavior, the average results of his team, and the alleged problems within his relationship, the end of the season likely can't come soon enough for Cristiano Ronaldo. But with Euro 2024, likely his last appearance at the tournament, on the horizon, Portugal's main man will be hoping he can turn things around before it's too late.