It wasn’t Cristiano Ronaldo’s routine brace against Latvia in the World Cup qualifiers that grabbed headlines this time. Goals have become second nature for him. Instead, it was a playful moment in the Portuguese dressing room before the match that set social media on fire. As music played in the background, Ronaldo and his teammates froze in place like mannequins, each striking a pose while one teammate recorded the scene on a phone. Much like the buzz that surrounds Live Cricket BPL, where one viral moment can dominate conversations, this short clip spread across platforms in the blink of an eye.
In the video, Ronaldo once again stole the spotlight. While most teammates posed in their jerseys or training gear pretending to take selfies, Ronaldo stood out by wearing only his own brand of white underwear, striking his trademark goal celebration pose. The image was so distinctive it drew comparisons to former England striker Gary Lineker’s famous on-air appearance in just underwear on Match of the Day. This wasn’t the first time Ronaldo sparked a social media storm; after Real Madrid’s win at the Camp Nou last season, he posed shirtless in the dressing room for a team photo, which quickly went viral and inspired countless imitations. The playful energy echoed the kind of enthusiasm fans show in Live Cricket BPL, where small gestures often gain huge traction online.
Even legends couldn’t resist joking about it. Former German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn quipped, “Lately I’ve seen Ronaldo’s six-pack more often than I’ve seen my wife’s chest.” The game Ronaldo and his teammates played is called the “Mannequin Challenge.” Originating in Florida when high school students uploaded the first version on October 26, the trend exploded online and quickly spread worldwide. Athletes in particular embraced it, staging increasingly elaborate setups. Before Ronaldo’s team joined in, Mexico’s national squad had already done their own challenge in a dressing room, while Manchester City, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, and Santos chose their gyms as the backdrop.
Some took creativity to another level. André Schürrle and Marcel Schmelzer of Dortmund froze while holding up heavy barbells, making the scene even funnier. Paris Saint-Germain may have gone the furthest, staging their challenge inside the club’s official store, adding extras and fans to create a lively spectacle. Although Ronaldo wasn’t the first to attempt it, his version carried unmatched weight. As the athlete with the largest following on social media, his participation created a chain reaction. Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford quickly followed with their own playful twist, filming at home with friends while Rashford got a haircut. Unlike the classic format, they broke the freeze to dance along with the beat, giving the trend new life.
With Ronaldo leading the charge, the Mannequin Challenge’s popularity within football shows no signs of slowing down. As players return to their clubs after the international break, more variations are expected. Celebrating goals with this viral freeze? Why not? In a world where even lighthearted locker-room antics can echo louder than results on the pitch, Ronaldo once again proved his knack for commanding attention. Just like the ongoing waves of excitement in Live Cricket BPL, where entertainment and sport intertwine seamlessly, his latest viral moment is another reminder that charisma off the pitch can be just as powerful as brilliance on it.