Cristiano Ronaldo makes 13-hour journey to join Al-Nassr for Al-Ettifaq match

Cristiano Ronaldo travelled almost 9,500 kilometres by air in less than 24 hours to meet up with Al-Nassr before their Saudi Pro League fixture against Al-Ettifaq, according to Okaz.

The Al-Nassr captain attended the closing ceremony of the 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris on Sunday evening before travelling to Saudi Arabia on Monday. He then met the club’s squad in the Eastern Province ahead of Tuesday’s match.

Al-Nassr will visit Al-Ettifaq in the third round of the Saudi Pro League, with Ronaldo joining the team after completing his international commitments as the tournament’s global ambassador.

The ceremony in Paris was attended by a major international audience, including Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The Esports World Cup, a Saudi-founded event, held its first international edition in Paris. More than 2,000 players took part, representing more than 200 clubs from 100 countries, while the total prize fund exceeded $75m.

Ronaldo’s schedule involved significant travel in a short period. The direct air distance between Dammam and Paris is approximately 4,752 kilometres each way, meaning the round trip covers about 9,504 kilometres.

Based on the direct route, the two flights would take roughly 13 hours and 45 minutes in total, or 825 minutes in the air. The aircraft would typically cruise at an altitude of between 35,000 and 40,000 feet, as is usual for long-haul flights.

After completing his role in Paris, Ronaldo returned promptly to Saudi Arabia and reached the Eastern Province before the rest of the Al-Nassr delegation. Rather than arriving as a player reporting for duty, he was pictured welcoming his team-mates when they arrived for preparations to face Al-Ettifaq.

The match will be Al-Nassr’s third league fixture of the campaign. They have taken six points from their opening two games and will be seeking to maintain their perfect start.

Ronaldo’s appearance at the Esports World Cup came as part of his duties as its global ambassador, while his rapid return underlined his commitment to Al-Nassr despite the demanding international schedule.