Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr top most viewed TikTok list, section of netizens mock 'Give him TikTok Ballon d’Or'
Ronaldo to get TikTok Ballon d’Or? Just kidding, there is no such award. But when a TikTok post featuring a goal by Cristiano Ronaldo on August 6 gathered 44.3 million views, some users rushed to the social media platform saying that this award should be given to the Portuguese player. A user called @opamilerinayo wrote, “Their goat strikes again.
Give him TikTok d’Or.” The Portuguese great was not nominated for the 2023 Ballon d'Or 30-man shortlist for the first time in 20 years.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr emerged as the most viewed team in world football with 568 million views on their TikTok account which has 14.2 million followers. They are followed by European champions Manchester City with 284 million views, Real Madrid with 234 million views, and Saudi outfit Al-Hilal with 200 million views. Juventus finished with 198 million views.
Some of the fans brought Argentine player Lionel Messi into the controversy.
Ronaldo led Al-Nassr to the Arab Club Champions Cup in August this year. He scored twice in the final of the Arab Club Champions and lifted the trophy though his side was one player shorter following a sending-off. Before that, the popularity of the club rocketed after he joined them.
Saudi Arabia is emerging as a new center of football with its government-controlled Public Investment Fund investing heavily in the game.
They own Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad, besides Al-Nassr. These clubs have signed some of the most exciting players from Europe. These include Croatian international Marcelo Brozovic, French midfielder Seko Fofana, Sadio Mane, Aymeric Laporte, Alex Telles, and Portuguese midfielder Otavio.
Read more on economictimes.indiatimes.com
