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“Great to Meet… Cristiano [Ronaldo]” – FIFA President Gianni Infantino Shares Experiences From Al Nassr’s ‘Narrow’ Champions League Win Against Al Duhail

Published 10/25/2023, 3:41 AM EDT

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It was a close call for Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League, as Al Duhail was on the verge of staging a comeback. However, a classic performance by Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the win for the Saudi club. Among the many spectators present at the venue was FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who witnessed it all unfold live. The FIFA President later shared his experience from the thrilling 4-3 encounter.

Al Duhail eased past Al Nassr’s Nawaf Al Aqidi as they scored 3 goals. However, it was Cristiano Ronaldo who clinched the win for his side sealing the win with the 4th goal. With his latest performance, CR7 has taken his tally in this competition to 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 games.

FIFA President lands in Saudi for an AFC Champions League thriller

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Gianni Infantino’s visit turned the heat up as the two Gulf teams were determined to clinch a win. Al Duhail was 3 goals down till the 61st minute. Two quick strikes from Ismael Mohammed and Almoez Ali breathed life into the tie. The FIFA President was present at the Al Awwal Park Stadium as he enjoyed the nail-biting thriller. Infantino later took to social media to share his match experience. 

The FIFA President wrote, “What a game! I attended a thrilling AFC Champions League match between Al Nassr and Al Duhail at the King Saud University Stadium with the Presidents of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and @alnassr, Yasser Al-Misehal and Musalli Al-Muammar, respectively.”

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Infantino further added, “It was also great to meet with some of the players afterward, including @cristiano and Sadio Mané whose goals ensured a narrow victory for the home team.” A thrilled Infantino was caught in the video getting his jersey signed by Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Gianni Infantino has been in Saudi for quite some time. He was earlier present at the Esports conference with Cristiano Ronaldo as Al Hilal’s president Fahad bin Nafel gifted him a few memorabilia during their recent meet-up.

Gianni Infantino meets Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi!

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino was also present at Al-Hilal’s AFC Champions League clash against Mumbai City FC. During halftime, Infantino met with with Al-Hilal’s president, Fahad bin Nafel as he presented him with a few gifts. Their brief conversation puts the focus on Saudi Arabia’s new goal to be a part of soccer diplomacy on the global stage.

via Reuters

In a gracious gesture, Al-Hilal’s president presented Infantino with a framed jersey and cherished memorabilia, cementing the strong relationship between the soccer giants. Images of this momentous meeting were promptly shared on the internet as the delighted fans reacted with amazement worldwide.

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Watch this story: LeBron James, James Harden, Trae Young, and Other NBA Stars Give Lionel Messi His Flowers After Argentina’s FIFA World Cup Win

Saudi Arabia’s ambition to host the 2034 World Cup, following Qatar’s successful 2022 edition, gains further momentum now. The recent New World Sports Conference in Saudi further showcased its rising influence in the Esports sector, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and FIFA President Gianni Infantino attending, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s growing prominence in the industry.

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Written by:

Neil Banerjee

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Neil Banerjee is a soccer writer at EssentiallySports. With a background in media studies, he possesses a deep appreciation for the intricacies, the strategies and the awe-inspiring nature of the beautiful game, firmly believing that a variety of factors underpin each match. As a devoted Chelsea fan, Neil's passion extends to diving into the stories that surround the club and finding intriguing narratives.
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Edited by:

Daniel D'Cruz