Watch: Crowds go crazy, chase team bus after Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in Iran with Saudi team | Football News
2 min readCristiano Ronaldo is arguably the most popular athlete in the world, and his fan base is truly global. His fans are known for their passionate and unwavering support, and their enthusiasm often reaches a fever pitch.
This was evident when hundreds of foootball fans descended on the streets of Tehran on Monday, hoping for a glimpse of their star player after he arrived with his Saudi teammates ahead of the AFC Champions league game against Persepolis.
Several of them even stormed into the hotel where Ronaldo is residing.
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Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in January 2023 was met with unprecedented excitement from fans all over the country. Upon his arrival in Tehran, supporters started chanting “Ronaldo, Ronaldo,” and pushed past police, filling the corridors and public spaces of the Espians Palace Hotel.
This is the reception Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr received in Iran 😳
(via @AlNassrFC)pic.twitter.com/mhxa8kVDNV
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 18, 2023
This is Ronaldo’s first visit to Iran with the Saudi football club Al Nassr. His fan frenzy is more than just a celebration of his athletic achievements. It is also a reflection of his global appeal and his status as a cultural icon.
The Asian Champions League games are made possible by the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia following an agreement brokered by China earlier this year.
They saying on tv that Khosrow king of Persia wasn’t welcomed like that the way they did to Cristiano Ronaldo.pic.twitter.com/ylzCgLnnHq
— ZEE⁷ 🇵🇹 (@FutbolZEE) September 18, 2023
The longtime rivals had severed ties in 2016 after an angry crowd stormed Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran to protest Saudi Arabia’s execution of a popular Shiite cleric.
The 2015 Asian Champions League edition was the last time Saudi and Iranian teams faced each other on home turf in the group stage or knockout rounds.