UAE golden boy Ali Saleh rubs shoulders with Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Globe Soccer Awards

Al Wasl midfielder also uploaded image of him with Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk in Dubai

Cristiano Ronaldo, left, signs an Al Wasl shirt with Wasl midfielder Ali Saleh, right. Courtesy Twitter

Al Wasl and UAE forward Ali Saleh has been rubbing shoulders with some of football’s most high-profile stars, including a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.

The UAE international, who wears Ronaldo’s No 7 for his club, posted the pictures on social media on Sunday.

A regular visitor to Dubai, Ronaldo is in the emirate for Sunday's Globe Soccer Awards, where he's nominated for both Player of the Year and Player of the Century honours. The Juventus forward, 35, is pictured posing with Saleh on the latter's Instagram Stories, and also lending his signature to a Wasl home shirt.

A lifelong fan of Manchester United, Ronaldo's former club, Saleh told The National last year that the Portuguese ranked among the footballers he admired most.

Saleh, 20, also uploaded an image to his social media with Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman, currently out injured, has been training at Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex as he steps up his rehabilitation ahead of a return to the Premier League champions.