Cristiano Ronaldo had a successful debut in the Asian Champions League, leading Al Nassr to a 2-0 win against Persepolis in Iran. Ronaldo, who has won five UEFA Champions League titles, captained the Saudi team in their Group E opening match.
The game took place at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium without fans due to a one-game ban for Persepolis supporters dating back to 2021, which favored Al Nassr. The goals came in the second half with a Danial Esmaeilifar own goal and a fantastic strike by defender Mohammed Qassem.
This marked the first time a Saudi club played in Iran since 2016, following a recent agreement between the two countries’ football federations. Ronaldo, 38, had several chances, including a powerful header that hit the post.
Al Nassr’s advantage increased when Persepolis midfielder Milad Sarlak received a second yellow card for a seemingly accidental stamp on Ronaldo’s boot. Ronaldo played a key role in Al Nassr’s opening goal just after the hour mark, and Qassem’s goal secured the victory ten minutes later.
