How Cristiano Ronaldo Left Saudi League Star in Tears After Pitch Encounter

• Portugal and Al-Nassr captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, once left his opponent in the Saudi Pro League in tears
• His opponent, Fashion Sakala, was overwhelmed with emotions after his encounter with the Portuguese
• Despite being moved to tears, Sakala holds the moment of sharing the same pitch with CR7 in high esteem

Cristiano Ronaldo's influence cannot be overstated, and his unexpected yet lucrative transfer to the Saudi Pro League is a clear testament to his far-reaching impact.

Since his move to Al-Nassr in January 2023, many top-tier stars have been drawn to the Middle East, inspired by the Portuguese icon.

Among these stars is Fashion Sakala, a speedy forward from Zambia.

Last summer, he joined the Saudi League, signing a two-year contract with Al-Fayha.

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Although his transfer didn't generate the same buzz as those of Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane, Sakala made a significant impact in the Saudi top division.

How Fashion Sakala performed in the Saudi Pro League

The 28-year-old netted an impressive 19 goals, ranking him the third-highest scorer in the championship, and added six assists in 31 matches.

According to Transfermarkt, Fashion contributed 31 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions, marking a stellar debut season.

Reflecting on his first year in Saudi Arabia, the former Rangers cult hero shared that joining Al-Fayha was an easy choice.

The offer matched his long-held ambitions, including the dream of meeting Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sakala, who has idolised Ronaldo since childhood, recounted the emotional moment of playing alongside his hero.

How Ronaldo left Sakala in tears after pitch encounter

In a touching exchange after a match, when Sakala asked for Ronaldo's shirt, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner also requested his in return.

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This heartfelt gesture brought Sakala to tears, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

"Ronaldo opened the door for many players to come to the Saudi League. In one of the matches, I asked for Cristiano's shirt.

"And the interesting thing is that he asked me to give him my shirt, and this made me cry because I fulfilled my childhood dream.

"I remember I went into the dressing room, and I was just dropping tears," he told Saudi League's official Youtube channel.

Donald Trump playfully tips Ronaldo to become Portugal's president

In an earlier report by YEN.com.gh, it was noted that in 2018, former U.S. President Donald Trump humorously implied that Cristiano Ronaldo would defeat Portugal's president in an election.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Portugal's President since 2016, laughed off the suggestion.

Nevertheless, Trump, aiming for a White House comeback in the upcoming November elections, maintained that Marcelo would be outmatched.

Source: YEN.com.gh