The 36 year old, Cristiano Ronaldo has once again validated the fact that age is just but a number, as he scored a spectacular bicycle kick that gave Al-Nassr a 4 1 lead over Al-Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League. A physics-defying, acrobatic performance by the 40-year-old Portuguese icon amazed the people of Riyadh and immediately went viral in sports media around the world.
The game began with Sadio Mane and Joao Felix scoring early goals in the game giving Al-Nassr a first-time momentum. However, Ronaldo shone at the right time, in the stoppage time, and stole the limelight. As time was six minutes added to the clock, a right-wing delivery made a sharp right turn and fell right in the path of Ronaldo. He started off with a textbook bicycle kick with great force and accuracy. The ball flew over the flustered goalkeeper securing the win and igniting social media.
The world fans celebrated and the accolades of eternal athleticism and showmanship of Ronaldo were heard. One supporter wrote, “Gravity? Never heard of her! When I am 40, I am rewriting books of physics, @Cristiano. One more fan mentioned his famous bicycle kick in 2018, about the winning match in the champions league and said he had to do it twice because it was so nice. Others put it poetically saying, “Cristiano Ronaldo did not score a goal, he made a moment.
It became even more intense when the final whistle was blown and the teammates of Ronaldo lifted him up because of not only the goal but because of the legacy he keeps to develop in Saudi football. Social sites were characterized by a combination of awe, nostalgia and skepticism, with videos of the goal racking up millions of views in a few hours.
This recent instance just solidifies the longevity of Ronaldo in world football. At the age of 40, he still plays as a star, with the style and accuracy. As Al-Nassr mounts a serious challenge within the league, the shape of Ronaldo allows one to believe that even greater moments can be experienced in the future.
