VAR officials behind Liverpool error were in UAE 48 hours earlier: report
FootballCristiano Ronaldo: Fans Convinced Pitch Invader Who Tried To Hurt Portugal Star Was ‘Sent’ by Messi
- Cristiano Ronaldo came under attack from a pitch invader
- The 38-year-old bagged a brace as Portugal thumped Bosnia and Herzegovina
- The near-perfect game was marred by a pitch invader who tried to 'hurt' Ronaldo
Football fans took to X (formerly called Twitter) to propound a wild school of thought after a pitch invader tried to hurt Cristiano Ronaldo.
The regrettable incident transpired during the first half of Portugal's Euro 2024 Qualifiers against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, October 16.
Ronaldo spearheaded Portugal's quick start in their Group J encounter against the Dragons, scoring two goals within 20 minutes per Eurosport, pushing his overall count for 2023 to an impressive 40 goals in 43 matches for both club and country.
His early goals paved the way for Roberto Martinez's team, who secured three more goals, concluding the first half with a remarkable five-goal lead.
Despite the game progressing favourably for the Group J leaders, not everyone at Bilino Polje seemed thrilled, as an agitated fan circumvented the stadium's security protocols and made his way onto the pitch, as cited by AS.
While the fan's motives remained unclear, video footage circulating on social media indicated an attempt to approach the 38-year-old star from behind.
Fortunately, the stewards swiftly intervened, ensuring Ronaldo's safety before escorting the intruder away.
Here is the video:
Fans claim Messi 'sent' pitch invader
The incident did not go down well with fans across the board, with some suggesting the fan was embittered by Ronaldo's performance. They even argued he might have been a Lionel Messi fan.
@peak_united wrote with unmitigated certainty:
"Sent by Messi, of course."
@yesuz9 also concluded:
"Messi fan, without a doubt."
Another user, @RedWhiteRoar, was astounded by the fan's actions:
"Wow, so much hatred? Not good."
Cristiano Ronaldo's 2023 goal record sparks fan reactions
Football@Dub3m_aa, on the other hand, called for beefed-up security for Ronaldo:
"He needs to be protected more."
@_abochie wrote:
"A Messi fan, I guess."
Ronaldo overtakes Haaland as 2023 top scorer
Sports Brief also reported that by securing a brace against Bosnia on Monday evening, Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed Erling Haaland as the leading scorer in 2023.
Demonstrating unwavering form from Friday night's game, the 38-year-old replicated his success against the Dragons at the Bilino Polje in Zenica.
With these achievements in the first half, Ronaldo's overall goals in the calendar year have now reached an impressive 40 in 43 appearances for both his club and country, overtaking Haaland in the process.