Al Nassr players: Full squad breakdown, roster, shirt numbers for Cristiano Ronaldo's new club

Kyle Bonn

Al Nassr players: Full squad breakdown, roster, shirt numbers for Cristiano Ronaldo's new club image

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

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.