Fans urge Critiano Ronaldo to "Retire" after footage of Al Nassr defeat emerged , fans express shock

After footage of Cristiano Ronaldo playing in Al Nassr's recent King Cup of Champions defeat went viral, social media users are calling on him to retire from football in order to preserve his legacy.

In November of last year, after Cristiano Ronaldo's candid interview with outspoken broadcaster Piers Morgan, it was announced that the Portuguese international and Manchester United had mutually agreed to part ways.

Despite heavy speculation about Cristiano Ronaldo's next move, it was announced in January that Saudi Pro League's Al-Nassr had signed the Portuguese international as a free agent. Reports indicated that Ronaldo had signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club, which included being appointed as captain and wearing the No. 7 shirt. In addition, the deal made him the world's highest-paid athlete at the time. Not too shabby, huh?

Although Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 11 goals in 11 matches since joining Al Nassr at the beginning of this year, it is his latest performance in the Saudi King Cup of Champions that has caused fans on social media to question how much longer the striker can continue playing at a high level.

Yesterday saw his side knocked out of the Saudi King Cup semi-finals by Mecca’s Al Wehda. Despite Al Nassr dominating possession, it was Jean-David Beauguel in the 23rd minute that made all the difference.

Ronaldo left the field at half-time having failed to find goal but it wasn’t his substitution that got football fans across TikTok talking.

In a 38-second clip posted to TikTok, Ronaldo can be seen pelting away from the halfway line, weaving and evading various Al Wehda red shirts. However, when trying to get past right-back Amir Kurdi, it looks as if Ronaldo hurt his left thigh and goes on to lose control of the ball. Kurdi takes advantage by stealing the ball off Ronaldo and manages to keep the forward at bay.

The video, which has been viewed 4.5 million times, has prompted thousands of fans to express their opinions in the comments section, with many debating whether it is time for Cristiano Ronaldo to retire from football altogether.

One TikTok user wrote: “You can’t cheat nature no matter the training you give yourself. Once you are weak you are weak. [I] am a Messi fan, Ronaldo na legend.”

Another said: “If he just played to what he can do he’d be good enough still. Tryna’ do these things he did at 22 ain’t working and he needs to accept it.”

A third user agreed: “He’s slowing down and people were too scared to admit it this season.”

However, not everybody agrees that Ronaldo is past his heyday. “I actually think if he was still at Madrid he wouldn't be playing like this,” said one TikTok user.

Another user questioned why the video was focusing on a small mistake, rather than the larger impact CR7 had on the semi-final. They wrote: “Ya’ll acting like he never did nothing good in the match. Why you only showing the bad part? Come on.”