Cristiano Ronaldo 'looking forward' to Al Nassr's Saudi Super Cup showdown with Al Ittihad

Portuguese superstar will lead his new team in the semi-final in Riyadh on Thursday

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

Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr leads the team out for the game against Al Ittifaq. Getty

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 will be looking on Thursday to fire Al Nassr to within one match of a first trophy with his new club, when they face Al Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final in Riyadh.

The Portuguese star, signed last month on a hugely lucrative contract, debuted for the capital club on Sunday, helping his team secure a 1-0 victory against Ettifaq. The win, sealed by Anderson Talisca's first-half header, lifted Nassr back top of the Saudi Pro League.

Nine-time domestic champions, Nassr take on third-placed Ittihad next in the expanded Saudi Super Cup, with the winner at King Fahd International Stadium then meeting either Al Hilal or Al Feiha in Sunday’s final.

On Wednesday night, Ronaldo posted on Instagram: "Looking forward to the big game tomorrow! Let’s go team!"

Nassr and Ittihad boast the best defensive records in this season’s top flight, with each conceding only six goals in 14 league matches. Ittihad trail the leaders by two points, with Hilal sandwiched between – although the reigning champions have played a game more.

The Saudi Super Cup previously pitched against one another the league champions and King’s Cup winners from the previous season. However, it has been extended to include the runners-up from both.

As Hilal were the 2021/22 league winners and King’s Cup runners-up, Nassr have been provided the extra spot.

Hilal and Feiha – the latter defeated the Asian champions in last season’s King's Cup final on penalties - play earlier on Thursday.

Ronaldo, 37, joined Nassr last month on a two-and-a-half-year contract reportedly worth more than $200 million per year. The Portugal captain, the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s football, was a free agent having left Manchester United in November.

Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and comfortably the highest-profile player to ply his trade in the Saudi league.