On a crisp, late-autumn evening, hundreds of football fans flocked to Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, to watch one of the biggest sporting idols in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 39-year-old Portuguese football player was in the city on Monday to play in an AFC Champions League Elite Group B match against Qatar’s Al Gharafa Sports Club with his Saudi squad, Al Nassr.
The stadium’s location 50 kilometres away from Doha, the late 7pm kickoff, and the lower interest in the competition didn’t stop 37,000 spectators, which is 12% of Qatar’s population, from attending.
‘Ronaldo, may I please have your shirt?’
Some loyal Al Gharafa fans and traveling supporters were present, along with many unaligned spectators who came solely to see the iconic Ronaldo, a highly recognizable and charismatic sports personality of the 21st century.
The fans included many children of different ages, nationalities, and soccer allegiances.
Replica jerseys of Ronaldo from his different football clubs – such as Al Nassr, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, along with his national team Portugal – were popular in the large stands at Al Bayt Stadium, worn by both children and adults.
“I have been a loyal fan of Ronaldo for my entire life, that’s why I came to see him and request his jersey,” Noufil Abdel Malik informed Al Jazeera before the game started.
Only 12 years old, Malik had managed to get a spot behind the Al Nassr bench and displayed a sign requesting Ronaldo’s shirt.
In a significant AFC Champions League victory, Al Nassr’s star player stood out.
Although no fans received Ronaldo’s shirt, the Al Nassr captain delivered an impressive performance, scoring two goals in a 3-1 victory. He certainly made the spectators’ experience worthwhile.
The outcome has put Al Nassr on the verge of advancing to the competition’s round of 16. The Saudi Pro League team requires two more points in order to advance in the competition with three group games remaining.
Following the victory, Ronaldo stated that his supporters, particularly the younger ones, were a significant source of inspiration for him to keep playing professional football, even as the veteran striker reached the age of 40 on February 5.
Ronaldo expressed to Al Jazeera after the match that his main drive is still to bring joy to his fans, particularly children, as he has some children of his own.
“The authenticity of children’s passion is undeniable.” I try my best for them because they have a passion for football. “Score goals and lead my team to victory.”
‘Living in Qatar is consistently positive.’
The game signified Ronaldo’s first trip back to Qatar since the FIFA World Cup 2022, during which he guided Portugal to the quarterfinals.
The forward, standing at 1.87m, acknowledged his joyful comeback as he increased his total number of senior career goals to a world record 915 for club and country.
He expressed that it is always pleasant to be back in Qatar.
“To see the passion people have for the team, for football, and for myself.”I am pleased that I managed to achieve two goals tonight and I am returning to Saudi Arabia very content.”
Like many young fans at Al Bayt Stadium, eight-year-old Ronaldo enthusiast Harshveer Singh wore the blue and yellow uniform of Al Nassr, which featured Ronaldo’s name and number seven on the back.
“I asked my dad to bring me here when I learned last week that Ronaldo would be in Qatar,” Singh said.
“I can’t wait to see him perform live.”
Ronaldo’s live performance pleased young fans.
The sound of “siu,” which roughly translates to “yes” in Portuguese, echoed around the stadium as Ronaldo displayed his signature celebration, leaving even younger fans, many of whom likely remained up well beyond their bedtime, stunned.
Even around nine o’clock at night, five-year-old Shahem al-Salem showed no symptoms of being sleepy; the thrill of witnessing Ronaldo’s experience from a few meters away kept the kindergartener alert.
He looked at his father, who nodded approvingly, and said sheepishly, “I don’t think I’ll go to school tomorrow.”
For the most of the game, it appeared that neither the local supporters nor the organizers took offense, and the audience was openly supportive of the visiting team for a home game involving a Qatari club.
Following the game, 18-year-old Abdallah Abdel Razeq, a native of Lebanon, stated, “No matter where he plays, Ronaldo has the ability to bring people out of their homes and fill stadiums.”
“I can guarantee you that at least 35,000 of the 37,000 spectators in the stadium came solely to see him.”
