Cristiano Ronaldo thanks fans for 'incredible support' after Al Nassr debut

Portuguese superstar handed captain's armband as Nassr beat Al Ettifaq 1-0 to go top of the Saudi Pro League

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates on his debut for Al Nassr with teammate Anderson Talisca, who scored the winner in the 1-0 Saudi Pro League victory over Al Ettifaq at Mrsool Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 22, 2023. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with Anderson Talisca, who scored Al Nassr's winner against Al Ettifaq. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with Anderson Talisca. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo makes a run on his Al Nassr debut. Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Al Nassr against Al Ettifaq. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Anderson Talisca's winning goal. Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr runs with the ball. Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr during the game at Mrsool Park Stadium. Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr during the game against Al Ittifaq. Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Ittifaq. Getty

Al Nassr's Anderson Talisca celebrates scoring their winner with Cristiano Ronaldo. Reuters

Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo fights for the ball. AP

All Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo checks on teammate Pity Martinez during the game. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr before kick-off. Getty

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - JANUARY 22: Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr leads the team out prior to the Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al-Ittifaq Club at Mrsool Park Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh / Getty Images)

Al Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo takes a shot. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr during the game. Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Al Nassr's winner with teammates. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo takes a free-kick during. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo dribbles with the ball. AFP

Al Nassr's Anderson Talisca celebrates scoring their winner with Ali Al Lajami and Cristiano Ronaldo. Reuters

Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the match. EPA

Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo wins a header. EPA

Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo greets supporters ahead of the match against Al Ettifaq. AFP

Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo battles at a corner-kick. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr before the game. Getty

A supporter of Al Nassr with a Cristiano Ronaldo shirt. AFP

Al Nassr fans sit under a giant poster of Cristiano Ronaldo. AP

A fan of Al Nassr's holds up a Cristiano Ronaldo poster before the match. Reuters

A fan Al Nassr with a Cristiano Ronaldo banner. Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo thanked fans for their "incredible support" as the Portuguese superstar marked his first game for new club Al Nassr with a win on Sunday.

Following last week's high-profile exhibition match, in which Ronaldo captained a Riyadh Allstar XI against his old rival Lionel Messi and his Paris Saint-Germain teammates, Ronaldo was handed the captain's armband by Nassr coach Rudi Garcia for his Saudi Pro League debut.

The 37-year-old helped his new club to a 1-0 victory against Al Ettifaq at Mrsool Park to take his side back to the top of the table ahead of Riyadh rivals Al Hilal, who have a game in hand, by one point.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus striker Ronaldo failed to get on the scoresheet, with Brazilian teammate Anderson Taslica claiming the game's only goal on 30 minutes.

"First game, first win - well done guys. Thanks to all the fans for incredible support," Ronaldo tweeted after the match.

Portugal captain Ronaldo joined Nassr in November after terminating his Manchester United contract by mutual consent. He signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Nassr understood to be worth more than $200 million per year.

Nassr's next game is against third-placed Al Ittihad on Thursday, albeit in the Saudi Super Cup.