Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo: Reuters files
There are fans, and then there are die-hard fans. These dedicated followers have taken extraordinary measures to see or meet their idols. One memorable example involves fans from Argentine club Estudiantes who sold their homes and cars to travel to Abu Dhabi for the 2009 Fifa Club World Cup. Fans continue to go to unimaginable lengths to see their heroes in person, and the latest tale is of a devoted fan who journeyed thousands of miles to meet the athlete he idolizes.
A Chinese fan cycled 13,000km over seven months to meet Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. According to Chinese media reports, the fan named Gong packed essentials including clothes, cooking utensils, a tent, and power banks before setting off on March 18. The 24-year-old cycled through Kazakhstan, Georgia, Iran, and Qatar before reaching Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Gong faced numerous challenges during this arduous journey, including food, communication, illness, and the physical and mental exhaustion that comes with such a voyage. However, these obstacles did not deter him from completing his mission.
Did Gong get to meet his hero? Indeed, he did. Gong arrived in Riyadh on October 10. Although he had to wait a few days as Ronaldo was in Europe, Gong's dream came true on October 18 when a Saudi fan provided him with a ticket to the match between Saudi Pro League clubs Al Nassr and Al Shabab. Gong not only met the former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar but also took photos with him and obtained autographs on the team jersey.
Gong's journey was motivated by Ronaldo's cancellation of a two-game pre-season tour of China due to injury. Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in 2023, currently tops the goalscoring table with six goals.
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