Fans enthusiastically cheered for the Portuguese football legend, a five-time world player of the year, as he arrived with his Al Nassr teammates to confront Iran's Persepolis in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday.
This match marks a significant milestone, as it is the first one following the diplomatic deal brokered by China in March between Tehran and Riyadh, allowing sports events between the two nations. Prior to this agreement, teams from both countries had been limited to playing on neutral ground since 2016, when Saudi Arabia, a Sunni-majority nation, and Iran, a Shiite-majority nation, severed diplomatic ties.
The anticipation in Tehran was palpable as fans eagerly awaited a glimpse of Ronaldo as he departed from Iran's Imam Khomeini Airport.
Throngs of passionate supporters lined the streets, creating an electric atmosphere as Ronaldo and his team arrived at a hotel in Tehran, travelling by bus. Some fans were so fervent that they chanted "Ronaldo, Ronaldo!" and even made their way into the hotel lobby.
Throughout the main streets of the Iranian capital, posters of Ronaldo with the word "Welcome" written in Arabic, English, and Farsi were prominently displayed.
Navid Borhanifar, a 28-year-old Ronaldo enthusiast, expressed his excitement, saying, "I think it will be an exciting and beautiful game. It's a thrilling moment for me."
Unfortunately, the excitement of the fans won't extend to the match itself. The game will take place at the massive Azadi Stadium, which has a capacity of up to 90,000 spectators, but due to a ruling by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), it will be played behind closed doors. This decision comes as a consequence of a controversial online post by Persepolis in 2021 before a match against an Indian team.
Ronaldo and his fellow teammates are under the protection of a specialized "elite unit," responsible for securing presidential visits, as reported by sports website Varzesh 3. This unit's primary role is to prevent any contact between fans and players from the Saudi team.
Ronaldo's arrival in Iran has also ignited a discussion about the country's stringent internet restrictions. Iran has imposed severe internet limitations, including restrictions on WhatsApp and Instagram, since the mass protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, had been detained for allegedly violating Iran's dress code for women. In response to these restrictions, Persepolis's general manager, Reza Darvish, proposed providing the Saudi team with SIM cards offering unrestricted internet access.
The 2023-2024 Asian Champions League officially commences this week, with Saudi Arabia in the spotlight, having attracted notable stars like Karim Benzema, Neymar, and Sadio Mane, in addition to Cristiano Ronaldo.
While Persepolis is known as one of the region's most successful clubs, having reached the Asian Champions League final in 2018 and 2020, Al Nassr boasts a championship win in the tournament back in 1995.
Furthermore, in the coming weeks, more matches between these two countries are scheduled. Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad is set to play against Iran's Sepahan on October 2, and Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal will meet Iran's Nassaji Mazandaran on October 3.
