With Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at Al Nassr, the Saudi Arabia club has seen an exponential increase in global attention and exposure.
The club's Instagram and other social media accounts have exploded since Ronaldo signed, gaining thousands of followers across all platforms.
Ronaldo made his debut for the Saudi Arabia club in the domestic league on Sunday, January 22, and he has joined the squad already in the fight for the league title.
So who does the Portuguese star line up with? The Sporting News brings you a full look at the Al Nassr squad whose colours Cristiano Ronaldo is now defending as he begins his new playing chapter in the Middle East.
MORE: All the details of Ronaldo's Al Nassr contract & salary in Saudi Arabia
Who plays at Al Nassr? Cristiano Ronaldo and other stars
Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at Al Nassr was a signing unlike any other, but he's not the only international export playing at the Saudi Arabia club.
The other big names hail from South America headlined by Brazilian veteran Luiz Gustavo, who has 40 caps for the Selecao and played for Bayern Munich from 2011-2013. He signed with the side in July 2022 from Turkish club Fenerbahce.
American fans will also be familiar with 29-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder Gonzalo 'Pity' Martinez who has been with the club since signing from MLS club Atlanta United in 2020.
Ex-Arsenal and Napoli netminder David Ospina was the starting goalkeeper before an injury required him to undergo surgery.
Former Spain youth international Alvaro Gonzalez, who joined from French side Marseille this past summer, is a regular starter along the defensive line.
There are also some notable domestic stars with significant roles on the Saudi Arabia national side. Most notably, right-back Sultan Al-Ghannam has 27 international caps and played a significant role at the World Cup. Club captain Abdullah Madu has 15 caps of his own and saw minutes at the World Cup, while midfielder Sami Al-Najei did as well.
MORE: Who owns Al Nassr? Club owner paying for Ronaldo's massive salary
Al Nassr lineup, starting 11
Cristiano Ronaldo lines up as the lone centre-forward supported by creative, attack-minded talents behind him.
On most days that supporting cast is made up of Pity Martinez, Brazilian Anderson Talisca, and one of either talented Saudi creator Sami Al-Najei or Uzbek winger Jaloliddin Masharipov wide left.
Luiz Gustavo and Abdullah Al-Khaibari are the regular holding midfielders in front of a backline with Spaniard Alvaro Gonzalez at the heart of it when healthy.
Manager Rudi Garcia will likely opt to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation to get as many attackers on the field as possible, but the 3-4-3 is also an option depending on the opponent.
Al Nassr 4-2-3-1 formation (right to left)
GK: 22-Agustin Rossi (David Ospina out injured)
DFs: 2-Al-Ghannam, 5-Al-Amri, 21-Gonzalez, 13-Konan
MFs: 18-Gustavo, 17-Alkhaibari
MFs: 10-Pity, 94-Talisca, 14-Al-Najei
FW: 7-Ronaldo
Al Nassr 3-4-3 formation (right to left)
GK: 22-Agustin Rossi (David Ospina out injured)
DFs: 5-Al-Amri, 21-Gonzalez, 78-Al-Oujami
MFs: 2-Al-Ghannam, 18-Gustavo, 17-Alkhaibari, 77-Masharipov
FWs: 10-Pity, 7-Ronaldo, 94-Talisca
Regular Substitutes
Goalkeepers: 33-Waleed Abdullah, 44-Nawaf Al-Aqidi
Defenders: 3-Abdullah Madu, 4-Mohammed Al-Fatil, 20-Hamed Al-Mansour, 78-Ali Al-Oujami, 27-Majed Mohammed Qasheesh
Midfielders: 19-Ali Al-Hassan, 8-Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem
Wingers: 23-Ayman Yahya, 29-Abdulrahman Ghareeb, 11-Khalid Al-Ghannam, 77-Jaloliddin Masharipov
Forwards: 16-Mohammed Maran, 30-Meshari Al-Nemer
MORE: Complete Al Nassr match schedule
Al Nassr squad, roster for Saudi Pro League
There are 41 squad players available to manager Rudi Garcia with several youth products rarely seeing time given Al Nassr are fighting for a Saudi Professional League title.
The eight internationals permitted by league rules are highlighted in bold below with Cameroonian forward Vincent Aboubakar making way for the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Cameroon World Cup captain, who was listed on the bench for the Jan. 14 match vs. Al Shabab, is no longer listed on the club's official roster page.
With Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina out injured, Argentina Agustin Rossi was brought in on a six-month loan from Boca Juniors as a temporary replacement.
MORE: Who are Al Nassr? Everything about Ronaldo's new club
| Position | No. | Name | Age | Nationality | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | 1 | Amin Al-Bukhari | 25 | Saudi Arabia | Sept. 2020 |
| Goalkeeper | 22 | Agustin Rossi | 27 | Argentina | Jan. 2023 |
| Goalkeeper | 25 | David Ospina (injured) | 34 | Colombia | July 2022 |
| Goalkeeper | 33 | Waleed Abdullah | 36 | Saudi Arabia | Feb. 2017 |
| Goalkeeper | 44 | Nawaf Al-Aqidi | 22 | Saudi Arabia | July 2019 |
| Goalkeeper | 62 | Abdulaziz Rahma | 20 | Saudi Arabia | July 2022 |
| Centre-back | 3 | Abdullah Madu | 29 | Saudi Arabia | Jan. 2012 |
| Centre-back | 4 | Mohammed Al-Fatil | 31 | Saudi Arabia | Aug. 2021 |
| Centre-back | 5 | Abdulelah Al-Amri | 26 | Saudi Arabia | Aug. 2017 |
| Centre-back | 21 | Alvaro Gonzalez | 33 | Spain | Aug. 2022 |
| Centre-back | 59 | Yousef Haqawi | 20 | Saudi Arabia | July 2022 |
| Centre-back | 78 | Ali Al-Oujami (Lajami) | 26 | Saudi Arabia | Sept. 2020 |
| Centre-back/ Right-back | 15 | Abdulaziz Al Faraj | 19 | Saudi Arabia | Aug. 2021 |
| Centre-back | 58 | Aser Abdulfattah Hawsawi | 20 | Saudi Arabia | July 2022 |
| Left-back | 13 | Ghislain Konan | 27 | Ivory Coast | July 2022 |
| Left-back | 27 | Majed Mohammed Qasheesh | 21 | Saudi Arabia | Sept. 2022 |
| Left-back | 67 | Mohammed Qassem Al Nakhli | 28 | Saudi Arabia | Aug. 2021 |
| Right-back | 2 | Sultan Al-Ghannam | 28 | Saudi Arabia | July 2018 |
| Right-back | 20 | Hamad Al-Mansour | 29 | Saudi Arabia | July 2018 |
| Right-back | 12 | Nawaf Al-Boushail | 23 | Saudi Arabia | Jan. 2023 |
| Centre-mid | 8 | Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem | 28 | Saudi Arabia | Sept. 2020 |
| Centre-mid | 17 | Abdullah Al-Khaibari | 26 | Saudi Arabia | Feb. 2019 |
| Centre-mid | 18 | Luiz Gustavo | 35 | Brazil | July 2022 |
| Centre-mid | 19 | Ali Al-Hassan | 25 | Saudi Arabia | Oct. 2020 |
| Centre-mid | 54 | Khalid Hussain Kaabi | 20 | Saudi Arabia | Jan. 2022 |
| Centre-mid | 31 | Muhammad Yahya Sahlouli | 18 | Saudi Arabia | Jan. 2022 |
| Attacking mid | 10 | Gonzalo 'Pity' Martinez | 29 | Argentina | Sept. 2020 |
| Attacking mid | 14 | Sami Al-Najei | 25 | Saudi Arabia | July 2015 |
| Attacking mid | 27 | Majed Al-Ammari | 24 | Saudi Arabia | July 2022 |
| Attacking mid/ Forward | 94 | Anderson Talisca | 28 | Brazil | July 2021 |
| Right winger | 23 | Ayman Ahmed Yahya | 21 | Saudi Arabia | July 2019 |
| Right winger | 45 | Abdulfattah Asiri | 28 | Saudi Arabia | Sept. 2020 |
| Left winger | 11 | Khalid Al-Ghannam | 22 | Saudi Arabia | Jan. 2020 |
| Left winger | 29 | Abdulrahman Ghareeb | 25 | Saudi Arabia | Aug. 2022 |
| Left winger | 46 | Abdulaziz Saud Al-Aliwa | 18 | Saudi Arabia | May 2022 |
| Left winger | 77 | Jaloliddin Masharipov | 29 | Uzbekistan | Jan. 2021 |
| Centre forward | 7 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 37 | Portugal | Jan. 2023 |
| Centre forward | 16 | Mohammed Maran | 21 | Saudi Arabia | June 2022 |
| Centre forward | 30 | Meshari Al-Nemer | 19 | Saudi Arabia | Aug. 2021 |
| Centre forward | 56 | Fahad Aqeel Al Zubaidi | 21 | Saudi Arabia | Jan. 2022 |
| Centre forward | 57 | Muhannad Abdullah | 19 | Saudi Arabia | Jan. 2022 |
