Following the emergence of Harry Kane’s statue which has been kept in storage for years, we take a look at others who have been honoured – with mixed results

A 28th straight victory for the champions elect means Saudi rivals have much work to do despite big-money arrivals

Fans of The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid Football Club were surely supporting Al-Ittihad on Tuesday. The Jeddah team were TNS’s only hope of protecting their world record for the longest winning streak by a men’s top-tier team in all competitions. That was set in December 2016 when the 16-time Cymru Premier champions won their 27th game in a row to end Ajax’s 44-year spell at the top. Al-Ittihad failed and Al-Hilal collected their 28th straight victory to take the accolade from the English-Welsh border to Riyadh.

The last opponents not to lose against Al-Hilal were Damac who, thanks to a 30-yard free-kick from Nicolae Stanciu, drew 1-1 in September. That was Neymar’s first league start after his big move to the Saudi Pro League , but he has played little part in this run owing to a cruciate injury sustained with Brazil the following month. Instead, others have shone. Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 28 goals in 30 league and Champions League appearances since arriving from Fulham . Rúben Neves has impressed from the start and, in the second half of the season, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has become increasingly influential. The Brazilian winger Malcom, a big-money buy even if it did not make big news, has settled well and there is also Salem Al-Dawsari, the Asian player of the year.

• Ronaldo, who earns about £170m a year, fined less than £6,500
• Punishment is for gesture to opposition fans after Al-Nassr win

Cristiano Ronaldo will serve a one-game suspension on Thursday after the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (Saff) disciplined him for an offensive gesture at opposition fans.

Ronaldo must miss Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League game against Al-Hazm over his conduct after a 3-2 win over Al-Shabab. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had reportedly been subjected to persistent chants of “Messi” when he marked Al-Nassr’s victory by cupping an ear and thrusting one of his hands towards his pelvis.

He may be one of the biggest superstars in sport, but obscene gestures in a conservative country can still have consequences

Cristiano Ronaldo is supposed to be an ambassador for a modern and international Saudi Arabia and is not paid a reported annual salary of around £180m to produce articles that include words such as “crotch” or “genitals”.

Yet it is remarkable how easy it seems to be to annoy this five-time Ballon D’Or winner. All you have to do is chant “Messi, Messi”. Incredibly for a player who has played for the biggest clubs in the biggest games and won almost everything, it looks as if it gets under his skin. Ronaldo’s will to win, desire for the highest standards and work rate has been exemplary in Saudi Arabia so far and he is top scorer of the league and joint top in terms of assists. The competitive streak is deep but seems to be so wide that it is sensitive to suggestions that his main competitor exists.

• Videos show action apparently aimed at Al-Shabab fans
• Saudi FA reported to have opened an investigation

Cristiano Ronaldo faced a flurry of criticism after appearing to make an obscene gesture following the end of Al-Nassr’s 3-2 win over Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday.

The Portugal forward opened the scoring with a 21st-minute penalty but Al-Nassr needed a late goal from Talisca, who struck twice, to settle the game with four minutes left. After the final whistle, social media videos captured Ronaldo cupping his ear before repeatedly pumping his hand forward in front of his pelvic area. The action appeared to be directed at Al-Shabab supporters.