Ronaldo mania grips Iran ahead of face off against Saudi team

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Thousands of Iranians lined up outside airport in the capital Tehran to welcome Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, a forward for Saudi football club Al-Nassr, arrived at the Imam Khomeini International Airport in southern Tehran on Monday ahead of his team’s face off against Iran’s Persepolis club in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.

The world football star was welcomed upon arrival by Iranian football legend Ali Daei and senior officials.

Thousands of fans had stationed themselves outside the airport for a fleeting glimpse of their favorite footballer, who is visiting Iran for the first time.

Several banners welcoming Ronaldo and his teammates have been put up across the Iranian capital.

As the cavalcade of buses carrying Al-Nassr players, including Ronaldo, made its way from the airport to their hotel in north Tehran, people were seen frantically chasing the buses.

The videos of visibly emotional football fans waving at the Portuguese football star, who holds the world record for international goals, were widely shared on social media.

Some videos showed people swarming the hills around the hotel where Ronaldo is staying, hoping for a chance to meet him.

Many fans also stormed the hotel, as some videos showed. One little boy wearing Ronaldo's Al-Nassr jersey was seen crying for not being able to enter the hotel premises.

According to media reports, Al-Nassr players had to cancel their practice session on Monday evening ahead of Tuesday’s clash.

Persepolis manager Yahya Golmohammadi, at a press conference on Monday, hailed Ronaldo as a "legendary player" and said they were happy to host him in Tehran.

"He is a source of happiness and motivation for many young Iranians. It is difficult to stop such a player, but apart from him, there are other good players in the Al-Nassr squad," he said.

Iran and Saudi Arabia resumed diplomatic relations in April this year after mediation from China, seven years after severing ties in the wake of the storming of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad by angry mobs following the execution of a Saudi Shia cleric.