Cristiano Ronaldo: Iranian Photographer Sends Al Nassr Star Heartfelt Message After Persepolis Clash

• Al-Nassr were visitors to Iranian club Persepolis in the AFC Champions League
• Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates were greeted with a rapturous welcome by fans of the Iranian club
• An Iranian photographer has sent a touching message to the Portuguese star after the match

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr kicked off their 2023 AFC Champions League away at Iranian club Persepolis.

The Riyadh giants, who are experiencing a dream season following their Arab Club Champions Cup triumph, were met with a rousing welcome from fans of the Persian Gulf club.

Ronaldo was at the thick of fans' reactions as supporters of the Tehran side heralded the atmosphere with chants of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's name.

The excitement from the Persepolis fans was palpable, and Al-Nassr coach Luis Castro appreciated the welcome his team got.

As quoted by Essentially Sports, the Portuguese gaffer said:

Top 6 football conspiracy theories after Van Gaal's Lionel Messi 'Rigged' World Cup Comments

Football

"It was a very good feeling, and we all enjoyed it.

"We saw a series of scenes and many Iranian fans were even holding Al-Nassr team shirts, which was a pleasant event for us."

Ultimately, Al-Nassr clinched a 2-0 victory, setting the tone for their Champions League journey. Nonetheless, the outpouring of reactions from Iranian club fans and stakeholders towards Ronaldo and Al-Nassr showed no signs of abating and an Iranian photographer has expressed his admiration for the former Real Madrid star following the conclusion of the match.

Iranian photographer hails Ronaldo

As posted by TCR on Twitter, he wrote:

"When I was a child, I used to play football in the alley, imitating Cristiano and Messi, we would sit in front of the television with enthusiasm, watching them play during their matches and hoping to see them," he wrote.

Further highlighting the effect of the 38-year-old on his earlier days, he continued:

Sergio Ramos sheds tears as Sevilla fans welcome him back to the club

Football

"One day, what seemed impossible for me to hope for passed and I did not become a football player, but I entered the field of sports photography and I had a big dream since day one and I have worked hard to achieve it. I have realized that it is one of my dreams and I am proud to say that I am talking about these pictures of one of the best football players in history."

"Thank you, Cristiano Ronaldo 🥹♥️"

Ronaldo continues to serve as a source of inspiration for many, including this young photographer, who now fulfils his dreams behind the lens.

Al-Nassr begin Champions League quest

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Al-Nassr securing victory over Persepolis to successfully launch their AFC Champions League campaign on September 19.

Second-half strikes from Abdulrahman Ghareeb and Mohammed Qassem were more than enough to help the Knights of Najd secure a 2-0 win in Tehran.

Before the match, all eyes were on Ronaldo, whose presence in the Iranian capital caused a city-wide frenzy as fans swarmed to catch a glimpse of the veteran.