RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo endeared himself further to his Saudi fans Tuesday when he celebrated his goal by performing the Ardah, one of Saudi Arabia’s most famous traditional dances.
Captain Al-Nassr had a good night in front of goal, scoring twice despite having a disallowed goal.
After fielding the home second team, the Portugal international turned to the home fans and showed off his version of Ardah with a raised hand.
The dance is one of the kingdom’s leading theatrical traditions and was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2015.
It is played on special occasions, including official visits by world leaders, public holidays and cultural festivals.
“Since his first day in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano’s statements have included love, respect and appreciation for Saudi Arabia and the great project we are following and today he celebrates with Ardah,” one social media user said.
Another wrote: “The best player in the world not only scores goals but also exports Saudi culture to the world.”
In Ardah, performances begin with a chant once used to rouse warriors in the face of an enemy.
And in that spirit, the global superstar looked to lead his side to victory after a disastrous start to the season, losing to Steven Gerrard-led Al-Ettifaq and Al-Taawoun.
And he did exactly that.
Ronaldo’s scoring on two penalties lifted Nassr to a 4-0 win over Al-Shabbab at Al-Awwal Park in capital Riyadh.
