Ronaldo’s incident from 14 years ago resurfaces, sparking a storm on social media.

Cristiano Ronaldo finds himself at the center of attention again after Walter Pandiani, ex-Osasuna forward, brought up their controversial encounter from 2011, a time when CR7 was criticized for “arrogance” after making fun of his rival’s earnings.

Ronaldo has played for several top clubs including Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and currently Al Nassr,with an impressive record: 5 Ballon d’Or awards, 4 Champions League titles with Real, and over 900 career goals. Alongside these achievements, his strong personality and perceived arrogance have often frustrated opponents. One of the most talked-about stories is his clash with Walter Pandiani in 2011 during a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Osasuna.

According to Pandiani, the tense atmosphere at El Sadar that day made Ronaldo lose his temper. “The crowd was whistling and insulting him from the warm-up. He got angry, even kicked the ball toward the stands during free kick practice,”the Uruguayan striker recalled. The situation escalated after a foul, when Ronaldo shoved Pandiani’s teammate Camunas to the ground. “I immediately rushed in to defend my teammate and pushed Cristiano. He looked at me and asked who I was and how much I got paid,”.

The tension didn’t end on the pitch. In the tunnel, the confrontation flared up again, this time involving Sergio Ramos. Pandiani admitted: “I was really angry, and so were they. I didn’t like his attitude. He’s an arrogant guy. A fantastic goalscorer, but his behavior is questionable,”.

Things heated up further when coach Jose Mourinho, then in charge of Real Madrid, made a sarcastic remark: “Pandiani is just trying to get some attention after 11 years playing at the top level,”. This only made the Uruguayan striker even more upset: “It’s honestly very hard to accept,”.

This wasn’t the only time Pandiani publicly criticized Ronaldo. In 2014, he claimed CR7 won the Ballon d’Or because he “cried too much.”. Even after retiring in 2016, the 49-year-old often brings up the incident, using it as proof of Ronaldo’s arrogance.

The story immediately split the fan community. Many supporters agreed with Pandiani: “Honestly, I believe Pandiani. Ronaldo is talented, but everyone knows he’s arrogant. Asking someone’s salary in the middle of a match is seriously disrespectful.”

However, there are also opposing views: “Everyone loses their cool on the pitch sometimes. Ronaldo was being booed by the crowd, so his reaction is understandable. Calling him arrogant seems a bit harsh.”

Others suggest Pandiani is just bringing up old stories for attention: “Dragging up something from 14 years ago sounds like a bid for the spotlight. Ronaldo has won every title, while Pandiani is barely remembered.”

The incident has once again divided the community: to many, Ronaldo is a football genius, an unrivaled “penalty box predator”; but to his rivals, he also represents arrogance, always ready to challenge anyone both on and off the field.

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