Cristiano Ronaldo sparks Al Hilal debate after Darwin Nunez penalty appeal

Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a fresh jibe at Al Hilal after footage emerged of the Al Nassr captain speaking to Darwin Nunez following a disputed penalty appeal in their Roshn Saudi League meeting.

Nunez went down inside the Al Nassr penalty area in the 39th minute of the eighth-round fixture after making contact with one of the club’s defenders. The Al-Diriyah striker appealed for a spot-kick, but the referee allowed play to continue after reviewing the incident on the video assistant referee system.

The decision attracted protests, and the issue resurfaced during a later corner when Ronaldo approached Nunez and held a private conversation with him about the incident.

A video of the exchange circulated widely on social media, with some viewers interpreting Ronaldo’s comments as a sarcastic reference to Al Hilal. The suggested meaning was that the referee might have awarded a penalty had Nunez still been wearing the blue shirt rather than representing Al-Diriyah.

The discussion gained further attention because Nunez joined Al-Diriyah on loan until the end of the current season after previously playing for Al Hilal. That background added another dimension to the brief exchange between the Portugal forward and the Uruguay striker, amid the longstanding rivalry between supporters of Al Nassr and Al Hilal over refereeing decisions.

However, the words spoken by the two players cannot be clearly established from the footage. The claim that Ronaldo was mocking Al Hilal therefore remains an interpretation circulating online, rather than a confirmed statement from the Al Nassr captain.

The penalty decision itself also prompted considerable discussion after the match. Former international referee Saad Al-Kathiri said Nunez was not entitled to a penalty, arguing that the Al Nassr defender’s hand position did not have an effect on the play. In his view, the referee was correct to let the match continue.

A post shared on X by the account Manbar Al-Alamy claimed Ronaldo told Nunez: “The referee would have awarded a penalty if you were with Al Hilal.”

The clip, posted on 10 October 2026, added to the debate surrounding the incident, although neither the video nor the available footage conclusively confirms the exchange’s exact wording.

One moment from the meeting between Al Nassr and Al-Diriyah has consequently become another point of contention between Al Hilal and Al Nassr supporters, combining an unresolved refereeing argument with the rivalry between the two Saudi clubs.