Ronaldo scores two goals as Al Nassr win AFC Champions League tie in Qatar | Football News

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar – On a cool, late autumn evening in Qatar, hundreds of soccer followers converged upon the Al Bayt Stadium to catch a glimpse of one of many largest sporting icons on the planet – Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese celebrity, 39, and his Saudi soccer membership Al Nassr have been on the town to face Qatar’s Al Gharafa Sports activities Membership in an Asian Soccer Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite Group B match on Monday.

Regardless of the stadium’s 50-kilometre (31 miles) distance from Qatar’s capital Doha, the late 7pm (16:00 GMT) weeknight kickoff and the competitors’s comparatively decrease attraction to the common soccer fan in these components, the occasion drew a staggering 37,000 spectators, or 12 p.c of the complete inhabitants of the Gulf state.

‘Ronaldo, can I’ve your shirt?’

Amongst them have been a couple of thousand loyal Al Gharafa followers and some hundred travelling supporters backing the visiting crew – however a big majority have been unaligned spectators who merely turned up for a uncommon glimpse of Ronaldo, who’s, undoubtedly, some of the recognisable, charismatic and iconic sports activities personalities of the twenty first century.

Foremost among the many followers have been waves of kids of various ages, nationalities and footballing loyalties.

Duplicate Ronaldo jerseys from his numerous soccer golf equipment – from Al Nassr to Actual Madrid and Manchester United, in addition to his nationwide crew Portugal – have been widespread throughout the huge stands at Al Bayt Stadium, worn by youngsters and adults alike.

“I’ve been a Ronaldo fan my entire life, so I got here to see him and ask him for his shirt,” Noufil Abdel Malik informed Al Jazeera earlier than kickoff.

Malik, simply 12, had secured a seat behind the Al Nassr bench and held up an indication asking for Ronaldo’s shirt.

Ronaldo’s double-goal efficiency sparks frenzy

Whereas not one of the followers have been fortunate sufficient to have Ronaldo’s shirt thrown at them, the Al Nassr captain gave the spectators worth for cash, placing on a medical match-winning show with two objectives as his Saudi membership prevailed with a 3-1 victory on the evening.

The end result introduced Al Nassr on the point of qualification for the competitors’s spherical of 16. The Saudi Professional League membership want two factors from their remaining three group video games to progress within the competitors.

After the win, Ronaldo mentioned that his followers, particularly the youthful ones, served as an enormous supply of motivation to proceed taking part in the world sport, regardless of the evergreen star striker turning 40 on February 5.

“It’s nonetheless my motivation to make my followers blissful, particularly youngsters as I’ve a couple of youngsters of my very own at residence,” Ronaldo informed Al Jazeera in his post-match feedback.

“The fervour that kids have is real. They love soccer so I simply attempt to do my greatest [for them]. Rating objectives and make my crew win.”

‘Being in Qatar is at all times good’

The match marked Ronaldo’s return to Qatar for the primary time for the reason that FIFA World Cup 2022, the place he led Portugal to the quarterfinals.

The 1.87m ahead admitted his return was a contented one as he added to his tally of a world file 915 senior profession objectives for membership and nation.

“Being again in Qatar is at all times good,” he mentioned.

“To see the eagerness that individuals have for the membership, for soccer and for me. I’m blissful that I used to be in a position to rating two objectives tonight and I’m going again to Saudi Arabia a very blissful man.”

Arshveer Singh, an eight-year-old Ronaldo fan, was one of many hundreds of younger supporters who got here to Al Bayt Stadium wearing Al Nassr’s blue and yellow equipment with Ronaldo’s title and well-known quantity seven emblazoned on the again.

“After I came upon final week that Ronaldo shall be in Qatar, I requested my dad to carry me right here,” Singh mentioned.

“I’m thrilled to look at him play stay.”

‘Not less than 35,000 got here to see solely Ronaldo’

Even youthful followers, a lot of whom most likely stayed up properly previous their bedtime, watched on in a daze as Ronaldo flaunted his trademark celebration because the sound of “siu” (roughly translated to “sure” within the Portuguese language) reverberated across the stadium.

5-year-old Shahem al-Salem confirmed no indicators of sleepiness even at 9pm – the thrill of watching the Ronaldo expertise from a couple of metres away holding the kindergarten pupil awake.

“I don’t assume I’ll go to high school tomorrow,” he remarked shyly whereas glancing at his father, who nodded alongside fortunately.

For a match involving a Qatari membership taking part in at residence, the group was unabashedly supportive of the visiting crew and for many of the sport, it appeared that neither the native followers nor the organisers appeared to take offence.

“Ronaldo has the facility to carry folks out of their properties and replenish stadiums regardless of the place he performs,” mentioned Abdallah Abdel Razeq, an 18-year-old Lebanon nationwide, after the match.

“I can guarantee you that out of the 37,000 folks within the stadium, not less than 35,000 got here solely to see him.”