Ronaldo YouTube streams padel tournament during AFC Champions League stalemate

Cristiano Ronaldo was not involved in Al-Nassr’s 0-0 with Persepolis at Iran’s national stadium in the culmination of the league phase of their AFC Champions League campaign.

The Saudi Pro League club shared a stalemate with the Persian Gulf Pro League side at the Azadi Sport Complex in Tehran, which has a capacity of more than 78,000.

Croatia international and former Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic was among the high-profile players to start in an Al-Nassr side also lacking star names such as new forward Jhon Duran.

Two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane remained an unused substitute and Spain defender Aymeric Laporte came off the bench as part of a round trip of around 2,000 miles for the visitors.

🗒 || Starting lineup, vs

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN)

Cristiano Ronaldo: Why didn’t he play vs Persepolis?

Al-Nassr rested players because they had already qualified for the round of 16, giving their captain a break after he played for 76 minutes in their 3-2 Saudi Pro League win at Al-Ahli on Thursday.

Ronaldo’s official YouTube channel, which has almost 74 million subscribers, streamed the Riyadh Premier Padel Finals as Al-Nassr played.

“Join Cristiano Ronaldo in this amazing event, following his new passion,” the description of the stream said, promising commentary from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner of the increasingly popular racket sport that is played on a smaller court than tennis.

Organisers called the stream a “historic world-first moment” and a “unique collaboration to elevate and promote padel players globally”.

Ronaldo Champions League stats

Ronaldo has six goals in this season’s AFC Champions League as the 40-year-old looks to add to his solitary trophy since joining Al-Nassr at the start of 2023, winning the Arab Club Champions Cup that year.

Four of those goals have come in his last three appearances in the competition, scoring twice each away to Qatari opponents Al-Gharafa on November 25 and at home to Emirati team Al-Wasl on February 3.

Al-Nassr will finish third and play the team who come sixth in their West Region table in the round of 16, with the first legs scheduled between March 3-5 and the return games the following week.

They were knocked out on penalties by Emirati team Al Ain in the quarter-finals last season in Ronaldo’s first experience of the competition.

He won the 2007/08 Champions League in Europe with Manchester United and repeated the feat four times between 2014 and 2018 with Real Madrid.

Al-Ahli and reigning Saudi champions Al-Hilal are competing for top spot in Al-Nassr’s group and have one game each left to play.

Al-Nassr host Al-Ettifaq on Friday (5pm GMT) in their domestic top flight. They are third, eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad.