Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo made a heartfelt gesture towards Saudi Arabia following Al Nassr's 3-1 triumph over Neftchi Fergana in the AFC Champions League Elite on 12/10. Before the match, Ronaldo was seen kissing the national symbol – a palm tree and two crossed swords – on his Al Nassr jersey, a moment that resonated with Saudi fans. After the victory at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh, he draped a scarf emblazoned with the Saudi Arabian flag over his shoulders, amidst cheers from the stands. These displays of affection came as Saudi Arabia navigated a heightened security situation, with the match itself delayed by one hour due to security alerts in Riyadh. The delay followed reports of missile attacks by Houthi forces from Yemen and the interception of an unmanned aerial vehicle.
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Ronaldo celebrates after Al Nassr's victory over Neftchi Fergana in the AFC Champions League Elite at Al Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 12/10. Photo: Al Nassr |
Ronaldo celebrates after Al Nassr's victory over Neftchi Fergana in the AFC Champions League Elite at Al Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 12/10. Photo: Al Nassr
During the post-match celebrations, Ronaldo joined his Al Nassr teammates in their customary synchronized clap, all while wearing the Saudi-themed scarf. The club's official Arabic account shared a photo of Ronaldo in national colors, accompanied by the message: "I am Portuguese, but I belong to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". The English account echoed this sentiment, posting a picture of him celebrating with the scarf and the caption: "A part of Saudi Arabia, kept close to the heart".
This declaration of belonging is not new for Ronaldo. He expressed similar sentiments in a 6/2025 interview with Al Nassr media, following his contract extension with the club until 2027. "As I said many times, I am Portuguese, but I belong to Saudi Arabia", he stated. "You should be proud of Saudi Arabia, it is a great country. The future will be bright. They don't just talk, they act". The 41-year-old forward has openly embraced his connection to the Gulf nation since his move there after departing Man Utd at the end of 2022. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in 1/2023, quickly becoming a prominent figure in Saudi football as the country intensified its investment in sports.
On the field, Ronaldo also had a memorable evening, scoring a goal in Al Nassr's 3-1 victory over Neftchi Fergana during the second matchday of the AFC Champions League Elite qualifying round on 12/10. The Al Nassr captain scored to make it 2-0 in the 42nd minute, building on Angelo Gabriel's opening goal in the 34th minute. The visiting team reduced the deficit through Alisher Odilov in the 51st minute, before an own goal by Anvar Gafurov in the 78th minute sealed the win for the Saudi Arabian representative.
Ronaldo's goal against Neftchi brought his career total to 981 goals, leaving him just 19 goals shy of the 1,000-goal milestone. He continues to pursue this target in the late stage of his career, maintaining a central role at Al Nassr. Following the match, Ronaldo posted on his X account: "Important victory tonight, we continue to build". These public gestures also coincide with ongoing speculation about Ronaldo's future with the Portuguese national team, following a recent disagreement with coach Jorge Jesus. In Riyadh, his focus remained on Al Nassr and the country he has called home for almost four years.
