Karim Benzema of Al-Ittihad has found himself at the center of heated debate after sharing a provocative Instagram post in the wake of his team’s 2-1 victory over Al-Nassr in the Saudi King’s Cup Round of 16.
The highly anticipated showdown on October 29 featured two former Real Madrid stars Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo but ended with Benzema’s side triumphing despite being down to ten men from the 49th minute, following Ahmed Al Julaydan’s red card.
Benzema opened the scoring in the 15th minute, while Houssem Aouar sealed the win before halftime. In contrast, Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes but failed to find the net, registering only one shot on target and drawing criticism for a lackluster performance.
Shortly after the match, Benzema took to Instagram to post a celebratory photo. The image showed him rejoicing after the win, with Ronaldo appearing blurred in the background creating the impression that Benzema was celebrating directly in front of his old teammate.
Though Benzema did not mention Ronaldo by name, the timing and framing of the photo stirred strong reactions. Many fans interpreted the post as a deliberate jab at Ronaldo, especially considering Al-Nassr’s elimination from the tournament.
Some followers criticized the post as disrespectful: “That’s uncalled for Benzema shouldn’t celebrate like that,” one user wrote. Another added, “There’s no need to provoke Ronaldo after winning.”
On the other hand, Al-Ittihad supporters saw it differently, viewing it as a bold statement: “This is a message to Ronaldo and Al-Nassr The true king is back!”
Saudi Arabian media also weighed in, calling the post “unprofessional” for a player of Benzema’s caliber, especially one who has won the Ballon d’Or. However, others defended him, arguing that he was simply celebrating an important victory after a tough stretch for Al-Ittihad.
The incident has further fueled the growing rivalry between Benzema and Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League, adding another layer of drama to their post-Europe careers. Whether intentional or not, Benzema’s post has ensured that the narrative surrounding this clash lingers well beyond the final whistle.
Sources: Znews