Cristiano Ronaldo broke down in tears at the World Cup in Qatar (Image: GETTY)
Morocco winger Sofiane Boufal has mocked Cristiano Ronaldo by claiming he enjoyed seeing the Portugal superstar's tears at the World Cup in Qatar. The 38-year-old icon's World Cup story ended on the sourest of notes as Fernando Santos' side were dumped out in the last eight by the North African side courtesy of Youssef En-Nesyri's stunning header.
Ronaldo left the field in tears knowing he is highly unlikely to ever feature on football's biggest stage ever again having now played at five World Cup finals.
While there is still faint hope that he could be around in 2026 providing he continues to look after his body, CR7 evidently felt as though this was the end of an era.
Now Boufal has mocked Ronaldo for crying, stating the Morocco players were happy to bring the Portuguese forward to tears.
“With all due respect to him, but I enjoyed seeing him cry, rather than us crying," Boufal said via Al-Kass sports channel.
Sofiane Boufal has mocked Cristiano Ronaldo for crying at the World Cup (Image: Getty)
Boufal was also asked to pick between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi before naming one club he dreams of playing for.
The former Southampton winger added: "I prefer Messi over Ronaldo and the club I wish to play for is Barcelona."
Following his sublime World Cup in Qatar, Boufal decided to make the Middle Eastern nation his home, sealing a January switch to Al-Rayyan from Angers in France.
Football is seemingly on the up in the Middle East and the arrival of Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia could potentially prove to be the start of things to come.
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Messi, coincidentally, is also being targeted by Al Hilal ahead of the summer transfer window as the Saudi Pro League look to secure the services of the world's two most high-profile footballers.
The Argentine has already been guaranteed a place in his nation's World Cup squad in 2026 but unlike Ronaldo, he still has time on his side at the age of 35.
Ronaldo appeared to hint that he'd given up on his World Cup dream after being eliminated in Qatar, declaring he had given everything within his power to win the competition.
"Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career. Fortunately I won many titles of international dimension, including Portugal, but putting our country's name on the highest foot in the World was my biggest dream," Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.
"I fought for it. I fought hard for this dream. In the 5 appearances I scored in World Cups over 16 years, always by the side of great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I gave my all. Leave it all out on the field. I never turned my face to the fight and I never gave up on that dream.
"Sadly yesterday the dream ended. It's not worth reacting to heat. I just want you all to know that much has been said, much has been written, much has been speculated, but my dedication to Portugal hasn't changed for a moment. I was always one fighting for the objective of all and I would never turn my back on my colleagues and my country.
"Not much more to say for now. Thank you Portugal. Thank you Qatar. The dream was nice while it lasted... Now, I'm hoping that the weather will be good and allow each one to draw their own conclusions."
Ronaldo is yet to retire from international football and recently broke the world record for most international appearances after earning his 197th cap for Portugal.
