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.
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
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if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
