Following his high profile departure from Manchester United before the 2022 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr in January 2023.
Inking a contract that is set to run for two-and-a-half years, Ronaldo reportedly earns up to €200m per year (£172m/$211m) with the Middle Eastern outfit, an amount that makes him the highest-paid footballer on the planet.
The Portugal international was without a club for just over a month following his controversial exit from Manchester United. After giving an explosive interview regarding the Old Trafford club, the Red Devils and Ronaldo mutually agreed to end his playing contract at the club.
But he's now settling into life in Saudi Arabia having scored two hat-tricks in the space of three games.
Below are all the details you'll need of how to watch Ronaldo as he embarks of a new journey in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr.
MORE: All about Saudi Pro League as Cristiano Ronaldo moves to Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr
When did Ronaldo debut for Al Nassr?
After making official his move to the Middle East, Ronaldo was forced to serve a two-match suspension carried over from his time in England for swatting a phone out of a fan's hands as he walked off the field in a match against Everton.
Having served the ban, Ronaldo was able to make an appearance against PSG in a high-profile Riyadh Season Cup friendly match on January 19, scoring two goals to set the tone for what was to come during Al Nassr's season.
His first official minutes for Al Nassr came against Ettifaq on Sunday, January 22. He didn't score in that official debut, but his side still won his first match 1-0.
Al Nassr live stream: How to watch Saudi Pro League and Saudi Super Cup
SSC (Saudi Sports Company) has live streamed select Al Nassr matches in English via its Twitter channel.
Local broadcasters in many other countries have since acquired rights to televise or stream the Saudi Pro League. Meanwhile, fans in the remaining regions can subscribe to streaming platform Shahid for complete coverage of the Roshn Saudi Pro League.
| TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | — | 10 Play |
| Canada | — | Shahid |
| Hong Kong | — | myTV Super |
| India | Sony TEN 2 | JioTV, SONY LIV |
| Malaysia | — | Astro Supersport |
| New Zealand | — | Shahid |
| Singapore | StarHub Sports 2 | StarHub+ |
| UK | — | Sky Sports |
| USA | — | Shahid |
MORE: Watch highlights from all of Al Nassr's previous matches
It's almost time ⏳
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) March 3, 2023
Around 40 TV channels 📺
From all continents 🌍
Watch #AlNassr game in your country 💛 pic.twitter.com/NQZaiML9JW
Al Nassr schedule this season
This season Al Nassr find themselves locked in the middle of a title fight as they look to win their 10th Saudi Pro League championship.
| Date | Competition | Stage | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Mar. 3 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 19 | vs. Al Batin |
| Thu, Mar. 9 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 20 | at Al Ittihad |
| Tue, Mar. 14 | King Cup of Champions | Quarterfinals | vs. Abha |
| Sat, Mar. 18 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 21 | vs. Abha |
| April (TBD) | King Cup of Champions | Semifinal | TBD |
| Tue, Apr. 4 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 22 | at Al Adalah |
| Sun, Apr. 9 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 23 | at Al Feiha |
| Thu, Apr. 27 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 24 | vs. Al Raed |
| TBD | King Cup of Champions | Final | TBD |
| Wed, May 3 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 25 | at Al Hilal |
| Tue, May 9 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 26 | vs. Al Khaleej |
| Mon, May 15 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 27 | at Al Ta'ee |
| Sat, May 20 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 28 | vs. Al Shabab |
| Fri, May 26 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 29 | at Al Ettifaq |
| Wed, May 31 | Saudi Pro League | Matchday 30 | vs. Al Fateh |
MORE: How much money is Cristiano Ronaldo making in Saudi Arabia?
Who are Al Nassr?
Al Nassr are one of Saudi Arabia's most successful clubs. They were formed in 1955 and have a trophy cabinet that is almost as crammed as the ones owned by Ronaldo's former clubs.
They have won nine Premier League titles, six King Cup crowns, a hat-trick of Crown Prince's Cup trophies, the Federation Cup three times and the Saudi Super Cup twice.
The club won the bygone competition the GCC Champions League twice and did a double in 1998 by claiming the Asian Cup Winners' Cup and the Asian Super Cup. That sent them into the 2000 World Club Cup, in which their mixed results included a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid, Ronaldo's then future employers.
MORE: Who are the players Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing with at Al Nassr?
Al Nassr play at the 25,000-capacity King Saud University Stadium, which opened in 2015 and hosted a match to honour Diego Maradona between two of the late Argentina great's former clubs, Boca Juniors and Barcelona, in 2021.
The stadium has hosted pop concerts and was the setting for a WWE event featuring SmackDown and RAW stars in November 2022 — the latest in a series of major sports showpieces to have taken place in Saudi Arabia in recent years, including two boxing matches involving British fighter Anthony Joshua, football's Supercopa de Espana, and the first ever Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Formula One in 2021.
History in the making. This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves. Welcome @Cristiano to your new home @AlNassrFC pic.twitter.com/oan7nu8NWC
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 30, 2022
Al Nassr play in yellow and blue home colours and predominantly blue away colours. They are known as The International Club and the Knights of Najd, and are managed by Rudi Garcia, who has previously led clubs including Roma, Marseille and Lyon.
MORE: Who owns Al Nassr? The group paying Ronaldo's big salary
Ronaldo is not the first Ballon d'Or winner to have played for Al Nassr. Bulgaria legend Hristo Stoichkov, who won the most prestigious individual prize in football in 1994, joined the club on a two-match deal in 1998, playing a pivotal part in the semifinal and final of that Asian Super Cup triumph.
Denilson — a World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002 who was once the most expensive signing in history — is also among a host of major names to have played for the club, spending two months there during the 2006/07 season.
