Cristiano Ronaldo might want to avoid Iran for a while.
Iranian media reports that there have been several lawsuits filed against the Al-Nassr star after he hugged and kissed artist Fatima Hamimi on the cheek to thank her for a gift of two paintings.
Ronaldo could be staring down 99 lashes as punishment for adultery in the form of touching a woman while in a relationship.
Video of their meeting was shared by Al-Nassr’s official Instagram account.
The 38-year-old Portuguese scorer has been with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez since 2016, sharing to two children, Alana Martina and Bella Esmeralda, with the model, as well as twins born via surrogate in 2017.
He also has a son, born in 2010 to an unknown mother.
Ronaldo and Hamimi shared their moment when Al-Nassr traveled to Tehran to play Persepolis for an Asian Champions League group stage match.
Hamimi, who is reportedly 85 percent paralyzed and paints with her feet, was one of many fans who showered Ronaldo with gifts.
Ronaldo, who signed a 2 1/2 year deal with the Saudi Arabian club worth a reported $75 million per year, could be forgiven by a judge if “the acts are not punishable or Ronaldo shows remorse,” according to Marca.
Al-Nassr does not play in Iran again during the group stage of the tournament, but could again if both teams make it to the knockout stage.
It would not be the first time Ronaldo has run into legal troubles.
He was charged with tax evasion in 2017 and received a suspended two-year jail sentence and €18.8 million fine, later reduced to €16.8 million.
This month, an attorney for a woman who claimed the soccer star raped her in Las Vegas in 2009 asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the dismissal of the case in June 2022 and reopen the civil case filed in 2018.
Ronaldo is one of soccer’s premier scorers, having won five Ballon d’Or awards as the top footballer in the world during a 20-year senior career that has seen him suit up for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, as well as captain the Portugal men’s club.