After FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi had opposition fans on their feet to clap for him and chant his name on Sunday night, we recall seven other high-profile stars who earned appreciation from another team's set of supporters, including Cristiano Ronaldo!
Click through the gallery above to see eight stars who received standing ovations from opposition fans, according to Planet Football.
Messi has scored many hat-tricks in his career, but his triple away at Real Betis on Sunday night was made even more special considering the reaction he got from the home crowd. A chipped effort capped what was a superb individual display, earning the Argentine applause from Barca's opposition supporters on the night.
Ronaldo experienced the same treatment in last season's UEFA Champions League semi-final against Juventus, whom he joined from Real Madrid later that year. The then Los Blancos man struck a bicycle-kick straight out of the top drawer, only for Bianconeri supporters to stand and applaud the Portuguese.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard earned an ovation from Chelsea fans in 2015, after playing against the Blues for the last time, whom he almost joined during Jose Mourinho's first spell as the London club's boss. Fittingly, the Portuguese manager was on the sidelines in his second spell when the Englishman received cheers from the Stamford Bridge crowd as he made his way off the field.
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One of the most famous instances was in 2005, when Ronaldinho was praised by Real supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu after almost single-handedly tearing Los Blancos to shreds in a 3-0 rout. The Brazilian was arguably the greatest player on the planet at the time, and came up with one of the most impressive performances LaLiga has ever seen in that fixture.
The great Ronaldo Nazario also features for his jaw-dropping display at Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League in 2003 – click through the gallery to see all the names!
Do you think it is good for fans to show appreciation even when it is for players from other teams? Let us know in the comments section below.
