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Cristiano Ronaldo intervenes in Karim Benzema spat before player hits the deck in front of A-list onlookers

Fast and Furious star Vin Diesel joined Michael Douglas and Spike Lee to watch Al-Nassr take on Al-Ittihad

Ronaldo stops Benzema during a spat. Image credit: Getty/Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo stops Benzema during a spat. Image credit: Getty/Saudi Pro League.

Cristiano Ronaldo had to jump in to calm down former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema during a tense Saudi Pro League clash.

The incident took place around the hour mark at the during Al-Nassr's game at Al-Ittihad. The Frenchman clashed with Ronaldo's Portugal compatriot Otavio before Ronaldo got himself involved and calmed his former team-mate down. Otavio is seen to then hit the deck after appearing to be struck in the face by an angered Danilo Pereira, also a Portuguese player, before he was brandished a surprise yellow card.


It summed up a feisty affair between the sides with Ronaldo's Al-Nassr losing 2-1 on the night. Benzema opened the scoring after 55 minutes but just two minutes later Ronaldo equalised. The former Manchester United winger was then dealt a bitter title blow, as former Tottenham Hotspur attackers Steven Bergwijn scored a last-minute winner to give Ittihad a massive victory. Ronaldo's side are now fourth in the Saudi Pro League, 11 points behind Ittihad who are five points clear at the top.


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Among those watching on from the stands were Hollywood stars Vin Diesel, Michael Douglas and Spike Lee. The Hollywood trio made their way to Saudi Arabia earlier this week for the fourth edition of the famed Red Sea International Film Festival which boasted a mix of world premieres and acclaimed international films. The Features Competition will present 16 movies highlighting works from filmmakers across the Arab region, Asia, and Africa. Winners will be selected by a jury, led by Lee, awarding the Yusr Awards.

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Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after scoring the 1st goal for his team during the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Ittihad v Al-Nassr at King Abdullah Sports City on December 6, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)

Al-Nassr have now lost two games in a row due to a stoppage time goal, having gone down 2-1 to Al-Sadd in the AFC Champions League in a similar fashion in midweek. The Saudi Pro League now faces a lengthy winter break.

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