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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Hafsa Adil

‘World will take note:’ Saudi fans on Ronaldo link to local club

Fans hold up a sign inside Lusail Stadium with a message welcoming Cristiano Ronaldo to Al-Nassr, the Saudi club he has been linked to, during Portugal's round-of-16 game against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup on December 6 (John Sibley/REUTERS)

Doha, Qatar – Cristiano Ronaldo may have spent most of Portugal’s round-of-16 game against Switzerland on the bench, but his late introduction was greeted by deafening cheers from thousands of fans at Lusail Stadium on Tuesday night.

Many of them were not even Portuguese fans. Ronaldo is a massive crowd pull around the world, in leagues, exhibition matches and now at the World Cup. But while the 37-year-old is likely playing his last World Cup, fans in the Middle East might soon see him play locally again.

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