Joel Embiid Backs Cristiano Ronaldo After USA Draw; Twitter Does Not Approve

Joel Embiid lost a few fans Sunday night, and it had nothing to do with his fractured foot.

Like most in America, the NBA draft prospect spent his afternoon watching the U.S. and Portugal battle in group play at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. But after Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo set up the game-tying goal with a beautiful cross in stoppage time, Embiid did not share the nation’s frustration.

[tweet https://twitter.com/JoelEmbiid/statuses/480861147185164289 align=’center’]

Now, the former Kansas center has no reason to root for the U.S. in this World Cup. He’s a native of Cameroon, after all, and just moved from there to the States two years ago.

This did not deter the Twitter world from launching a 140-character assault at Embiid, though, much of it of a very non-family-friendly nature. Here are a few of the kinder responses:

[tweet https://twitter.com/_SeanDonnelly/status/480862019831087106 align=’center’]

[tweet https://twitter.com/c3calloway/status/480861593517838336 align=’center’%5D

Embiid was considered a surefire top-three pick a week ago, with the Cleveland Cavaliers expected to take him first overall. His foot surgery and the four-to-six-month recovery period that accompanies it changed that sentiment, but most experts still do not see him falling much further than No. 5 or No. 6.

Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@theScore