jordan pulse -

AMMAN
​Young Spanish midfielder Fermín López sparked widespread discussion across Catalan and Spanish sports media following his performance in leading Barcelona to a 2–1 comeback victory against Atlético Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Matchday 12 of La Liga. The reaction centered on his goal celebration, which mirrored that of Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo—the all-time top scorer for arch-rivals Real Madrid.
​The moment, occurring in the same week as Ronaldo's international retirement announcement, brought renewed attention to a recurring topic in Catalan media: several Blaugrana players publicly expressing admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo despite the traditional emphasis on loyalty to club legend Lionel Messi.
​1. Fermín López: Repeated Celebrations and Club Media Edits
​Fermín López’s celebration against Atlético Madrid followed previous instances of the player displaying admiration for the former Real Madrid forward.
​In 2022, while playing for Barcelona’s youth team, López scored via a bicycle kick and celebrated using Ronaldo’s trademark jump and "Siuu" chant. At the time, Barcelona’s media department edited out the celebration from the official match highlights posted on the club's media platforms.
​2. João Félix: Open Admiration for a Childhood Role Model
​Portuguese forward João Félix maintained his admiration for countryman Cristiano Ronaldo during his tenure at Barcelona.
​Félix stated in multiple interviews that Ronaldo served as his primary role model and inspiration since his childhood in Portugal, emphasizing that Ronaldo’s contributions to Portuguese and global football made him a foundational reference point for younger players, regardless of club rivalries.
​3. Vitor Roque: Preferring Ronaldo’s Mentality
​Young Brazilian striker Vitor Roque surprised fans upon joining Barcelona by naming Cristiano Ronaldo as his primary footballing role model, rather than traditional Brazilian club figures such as Ronaldinho, Neymar, or former icon Lionel Messi.
​Roque cited Ronaldo’s professional work ethic, goalscoring record, and physical conditioning as the primary factors behind his admiration.
​4. Francisco Trincão: Direct Declarations Upon Arrival
​Portuguese winger Francisco Trincão expressed similar sentiments upon joining Barcelona in 2020, publicly identifying Cristiano Ronaldo as his footballing idol.
​Despite the surrounding media focus on teammate Lionel Messi at the time, Trincão consistently cited Ronaldo as his chief influence regarding playing style, wing play, and shooting technique.
​5. André Gomes: Refusing to Exclude His National Team Captain
​Midfielder André Gomes was among the early Barcelona players to publicly address the Messi-Ronaldo comparison during his stint with the club between 2016 and 2018.
​Gomes expressed high regard for both players, highlighting the privilege of playing alongside Messi at club level and Ronaldo with the Portuguese national team. He maintained strong personal loyalty to Ronaldo, noting the national team captain's support during difficult periods in his career.
​Source: Rum News Agency