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

Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar – On a chilly autumn evening, a crowd of football enthusiasts gathered at Al Bayt Stadium to witness one of the world's most celebrated athletes, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese legend, who is 39 years old, and his team Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia were in the city to take on Qatar's Al Gharafa Sports Club in an AFC Champions League Elite Group B match on Monday.

Even though the stadium is located 50 kilometers (31 miles) away from Doha, Qatar's capital, and the match started late in the evening at 7 PM (16:00 GMT) on a weekday, as well as the fact that this competition isn’t the most attractive to local football fans, the event still attracted an impressive 37,000 attendees, which is about 12 percent of the country’s total population.

"Can I Get Your Shirt, Ronaldo?"

The crowd included several thousand dedicated Al Gharafa supporters and a few hundred fans who traveled to cheer for the visiting team. However, most of the audience consisted of neutral onlookers who came for a rare chance to see Ronaldo in action. He is undoubtedly one of the most famous, captivating, and iconic sports figures of the 21st century.

At the forefront of the crowd were numerous children of different ages, backgrounds, and football team affiliations.

Across the expansive seating area of Al Bayt Stadium, many fans showcased replica jerseys of Cristiano Ronaldo from his different teams, including Al Nassr, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, in addition to his Portugal national team kit. Both children and adults proudly wore these jerseys.

"I've been a fan of Ronaldo for as long as I can remember, so I came here to watch him play and to ask for his jersey," Noufil Abdel Malik shared with Al Jazeera before the game started.

At just 12 years old, Malik managed to get a spot right behind the Al Nassr bench, proudly displaying a sign that requested Ronaldo's jersey.

Al Nassr Star Shines In Key AFC Champions Win

Although none of the fans managed to catch a shirt from Ronaldo, the Al Nassr captain certainly entertained the crowd. He delivered an impressive performance, scoring two goals that helped secure a 3-1 win for his Saudi team.

The outcome put Al Nassr close to securing a spot in the round of 16 of the tournament. The Saudi Pro League team requires two points from their last three group matches to advance.

Following the victory, Ronaldo mentioned that his fans, particularly the younger generation, inspire him greatly to keep playing at the highest level, even as he approaches his 40th birthday on February 5.

Ronaldo shared with Al Jazeera after the match, "I'm driven by the desire to bring joy to my fans, particularly children, since I have a few kids of my own at home."

"Children's enthusiasm is authentic. Their love for football is evident, so I strive to give my all for them—scoring goals and helping my team achieve victory."

"Enjoying Life In Qatar"

The game was Ronaldo’s first appearance in Qatar since the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he guided Portugal to the quarterfinals.

The 1.87m striker expressed his joy at being back, as he increased his impressive total to a world record of 915 goals in his professional career, counting both club and international matches.

"It's always nice to be back in Qatar," he remarked.

“It’s incredible to witness the enthusiasm people have for the team, for the game, and for me personally. I’m thrilled to have scored two goals this evening and I’m heading back to Saudi Arabia feeling very joyful.”

Eight-year-old Harshveer Singh, a big Ronaldo fan, was among the thousands of young fans who filled Al Bayt Stadium, proudly wearing Al Nassr's blue and yellow uniforms featuring Ronaldo's name and iconic number seven on the back.

"Last week, when I learned that Ronaldo was going to be in Qatar, I told my dad I wanted to come here," Singh mentioned.

"I'm so excited to see him play in person."

Young Fans Thrilled To See Ronaldo Live

Even younger fans, likely staying up long past their usual bedtime, looked on in awe as Ronaldo showcased his signature celebration, filling the stadium with the echo of "siu" (which means "yes" in Portuguese).

Five-year-old Shahem al-Salem was wide awake at 9 PM, clearly energized by the thrill of watching the Ronaldo event just a few meters away. The excitement was keeping this kindergarten student alert and animated.

"I’m not sure I want to go to school tomorrow," he said quietly, looking over at his dad, who smiled and nodded in agreement.

During a match where a Qatari club was hosting, the audience openly cheered for the opposing team. Throughout most of the game, it appeared that neither the home fans nor the event organizers were bothered by this.

“Ronaldo has the ability to draw fans from their homes and fill stadiums wherever he goes,” remarked Abdallah Abdel Razeq, an 18-year-old from Lebanon, following the game.

"I can guarantee that among the 37,000 attendees in the stadium, at least 35,000 were there just to watch him."