Cristiano Ronaldo's response to being 'hated' in Argentina sums him up perfectly

Cristiano Ronaldo often thrives off the hate and when he was told he is hated in Argentina, he produced a typical response.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's glorious playing career will always be synonymous with rival Lionel Messi and even though there's a mutual respect between the two greats, many fans have picked sides.

Ronaldo will regularly be taunted with 'Messi' chants in games, whether that be playing for Portugal or Al Nassr.

And in 2020, Paulo Dybala, who has had the special privilege of playing with both superstars, revealed that he told Ronaldo that he was not thought of too fondly by Argentines during their time playing at Juventus.

However, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid sensation wasn't fazed in the slightest.

“On a personal level, I was surprised for good because I did not know him, none of us knew anything about him," he told DAZN.

"Even in the previous Champions League, we were knocked out against Real Madrid and there had been many crosses.

“But then we found something else, he is an excellent guy, very sociable and friendly inside and outside the locker room. "Always ready to talk, to listen, which surprised me, being an important figure, they are not always like that.

"Once I sat down to talk to him, we were travelling. I said 'look, if I'm honest, we in Argentina hate you a bit, because of your personality, your way of being, then you really surprised me because I found something else'.

“He laughed because he said 'I know that's the way it is, but I know how I am, I'm used to being criticised for that’.”

Ronaldo and Dybala formed a friendship in Turin, with the two memorably combining their two celebrations together after scoring.

Image: Getty

And though most Argentines might not be a fan of him, Ronaldo's other half Georgina Rodriguez is from the South American country.

Neither Ronaldo or Messi are playing in Europe at the moment but have both achieved success in winning the Arab Club Champions Cup and Leagues Cup respectively.

Ronaldo's Al Nassr are back in action against Al Fateh on Friday, while Messi makes his MLS debut on Saturday night against New York Red Bulls.

Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Al Nassr, Juventus

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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