Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent presentation at Al-Nassr was a massive success, receiving more views than Lionel Messi’s World Cup-winning moment. According to Spanish journalist Pedro Sepulveda, the presentation was viewed “3 billion times on 40 channels around the world.” He went on to say that if the World Cup final between Argentina and France had been broadcast on these same 40 channels, it would not have reached as many views as Ronaldo’s presentation.
Despite being presented at the event, Ronaldo was unable to participate in Al-Nassr’s opening game due to a two-match ban issued by the Football Association (FA) for damaging a young Everton fan’s phone while he was playing for Manchester United. According to FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), any sanctions of up to four matches issued by a player’s former association must be “enforced by the new association.” As a result, Ronaldo was forced to watch from the VIP box as Al-Nassr won 2-0.
Ronaldo’s debut for Al-Nassr was originally scheduled for Thursday but was postponed by 24 hours due to heavy rain. He will also miss the team’s January 14 fixture against Riyadh rivals Al Shabab. His first opportunity to play for his new club will be against Al-Ettifaq at Mrsool Park on January 22. Ronaldo signed a contract with Al-Nassr through the summer of 2025 and is reportedly set to become the highest-paid player in history, earning $75 million per year.
