Khabib Nurmagomedov and Cristiano Ronaldo are two icons of their sports.Â
Khabib recently retired from MMA with an unbeaten record, while Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon dâOr winner and has scored the most goals in football history, with a remarkable 815 strikes to his name.
So, what happens when two titans of their respective sports meet? Neither Khabib nor Ronaldo have taken any prisoners during their illustrious careers, but would they get on?
Well, video footage from Khabibâs visit to meet the Manchester United squad in October 2021 has the answer to that question.
As can be seen in the footage, the pair face off in true MMA fashion, before breaking character and embracing one another with a hug.
The friendship between the Russian fighter and the Portuguese footballer is perhaps not as unlikely as it seems. The pair are both mentality monsters in their sports and share similar values in winning at all costs.
The mutual respect is there for all to see, and it is a relationship that runs deeper than a superficial friendship between celebrities.
Back in 2020, in the press conference before Khabibâs UFC 254 fight with Justin Gaethje, The Eagle said that Ronaldo, a Juventus player at the time, âalways gives me advice.â
This comment came following Ronaldoâs post on Instagram in support of Khabib, prior to the fight that would be his last.Â
Following his trip to meet the Manchester United squad, and in particular Ronaldo, Khabib posted a picture of the pair on his Instagram account, with the caption: âHe is the best ever, keep doing your things champ, you inspire millions of people around the world.â
With Ronaldoâs future at United uncertain, perhaps Khabib has the answers that everyone is looking for.Â