Zambian forward Fashion Sakala has opened up about the reason behind his decision to use a photo of himself with Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo as his Instagram profile picture — describing it as a personal tribute to his lifelong idol.
Speaking after Al Fayha’s 2–1 defeat to Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, Sakala, who led the line for his side and played the full 90 minutes, said facing Ronaldo was a dream come true.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has been my idol — a very inspiring player and, of course, the greatest player of all time,” Sakala said. “He has inspired me a lot in terms of courage and confidence to believe that it’s possible to make it in professional football.”
Sakala added that sharing the pitch with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was a deeply emotional experience.
“I’ve been watching his videos since I was young, so I really feel blessed to be on the same pitch with him. Such a great man,” he said.
In the match, Al Fayha took an early lead through Jason in the 13th minute, but Ronaldo inspired Al Nassr’s comeback with goals in the 37th and 90th minutes — sealing a dramatic win from the penalty spot.
Sakala, 28, has been in fine form since joining Al Fayha from Rangers FC and continues to shine in Saudi Arabia’s top flight, now having had the chance to go head-to-head with the player who shaped his football journey.
