Cristiano Ronaldo has shown his gratitude to Iranian football fans after the Al Nassr captain made a winning start to his Asian Champions League career.
Ronaldo, one of the most popular footballers in the world, was the centre of attention during his short stay in Tehran, where Nassr began their Group E bid with a 2-0 victory at Persepolis on Tuesday night.
There may have been no supporters in the almost 100,000-capacity Azadi Stadium – Persepolis fans were serving a one-game Asian Football Confederation ban dating back to 2021 – but Ronaldo was given the superstar treatment from the moment Nassr touched down in the Iranian capital.
Fans crowded the streets to greet the Nassr team bus as it made its way to the team hotel, with many raising welcome banners and pictures of the Portuguese forward. He was also presented with a handmade Iranian carpet, while Nassr posted videos on social media of Ronaldo interacting with numerous young fans.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, Ronaldo posted: “Great to get the win today! A very special thank you to the fans and to all the Iranian people who have made this visit so special for us. Such an incredibly warm welcome!”
Playing in Iran for the first time since Saudi Arabia and Iran re-established diplomatic ties, Nassr eventually ran out 2-0 winners on Tuesday, thanks to a Danial Esmaeilifar own goal and a superb strike from full-back Mohammed Qassem. Persepolis were reduced to 10 men seven minutes into the second half when Milad Sarlak received a second yellow card, for unintentionally stamping on Ronaldo's boot. The score was goalless at the time.
Ronaldo, 38, was making his debut in the Asian Champions League. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star is a five-time winner of its European equivalent, the Uefa Champions League.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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Top 10 in the F1 drivers' standings
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 202 points
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 188
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 169
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 117
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 116
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 67
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 56
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 45
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 35
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 26
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The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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FIGHT%20CARD
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Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)