Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr shirt a big hit on the streets of Baghdad

It’s common that from season to season, teams change their football kits. It may be an altered shade of red, a new shirt sponsor or a design refresh to keep up sales each year.

Sports stores are quick to reflect the changes to match the demand.

But this year, walking through the markets of Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, one change stands out more than any other. A sea of yellow and blue shirts has flooded the market, that of the Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr FC.

This time last year, few if any Al-Nassr shirts would have been found. Shirts were limited to the European clubs of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona and few more of Europe’s elite. But, since the move of Cristiano Ronaldo, it’s hard not to spot the Saudi Arabian club across Baghdad.

“I think only about 10 percent of all Iraqis knew who Al-Nassr even were last year,” said Thiyah Saleh as he was unloading a fresh batch of Al-Nassr FC jerseys in his store in Baghdad. “It was only until Cristiano Ronaldo moved that I started selling these shirts.”

Qassim Ali, whose store in Baghdad is named after the Iraqi national team’s nickname “Lions of Mesopotamia,” reiterated Saleh’s sentiments.

“Before Ronaldo, we would never bring Al-Nassr’s shirt to sell. We bring what the people request,” he said.

Ali went on to explain that in Iraq, the interest in the Saudi Arabian leagues previously peaked when Iraqi players would play. “We used to sell Jeddah’s Al-Ahli shirt because Younis Mahmoud used to play for them, but as soon as Ronaldo transferred there, there has been a huge demand for Al-Nassr shirts.”

It’s not necessarily about the team; each of the shirts being sold has Ronaldo’s name and number printed on the back. On occasions, the shirts are displayed back-facing.

Jassi