Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival in Iran has generated immense excitement among the country’s football fans. The Portuguese superstar touched down in Tehran on Monday with his new Saudi club Al-Nassr, ahead of their AFC Champions League match against Iranian giants Persepolis on Tuesday.
In a country battered by economic woes and international sanctions, Ronaldo’s visit provides a rare moment of joy and entertainment for Iran’s youthful population. The 38-year-old is one of football’s biggest global superstars, renowned for his goalscoring prowess, mesmerizing dribbling skills, trademark free kicks and mid-air pirouette celebration.
Ronaldo will go up against Persepolis, Iran’s most successful club with a huge and passionate fanbase. However, supporters will be absent for the clash at Tehran’s 100,000-seater Azadi stadium, due to a ban by the AFC over licensing issues – a huge disappointment.
Iranian football fans, some donning Ronaldo’s famous CR7 branding, gathered at the airport and outside his hotel to catch a glimpse of their idol. Social media has been abuzz with lighthearted jokes about everything from Ronaldo’s hairstyle to whether his partner could share a room with him.
The Portuguese icon will spend around 36 hours in Tehran, with an entire hotel floor allocated to his Saudi club and a lavish suite reserved for him. While a Persepolis supporter, 25-year-old Ghazal admits to also admiring Ronaldo and feeling conflicted over who to back.
Ronaldo’s visit marks the first to Iran by a Saudi club in seven years, as relations between the bitter regional rivals thaw. He is central to Saudi Arabia’s ambitious push into football, with its clubs splurging on players this summer.
However, Ronaldo’s Instagram activity highlighted Iranians’ lack of access to major social media platforms. When Iran’s tourism minister joked about this, the former communications minister said it showed the need to ease restrictions. Typically, Iranians flooded Ronaldo’s account with tips to bypass state internet controls.
