bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Lars Hamer

Cristiano Ronaldo landed in Hong Kong on Thursday, sparking excitement as fans vied to catch a glimpse of the football superstar.
A crowd gathered at the Regent Hong Kong hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui during the morning after word spread of the Portuguese’s rumoured arrival ahead of next week’s Saudi Super Cup, which is being staged in the city.
They were rewarded shortly before 3pm local time when Ronaldo – who last month opened a museum in Hong Kong chronicling his career – arrived with his teammates from Saudi club Al-Nassr on their team bus.
Emerging from the bus to cheers, Ronaldo was ushered past fans and quickly into the hotel, while his fellow players stopped to retrieve their bags.


The Regent is a stone’s throw away from Ronaldo’s CR7 Life Museum in the K11 Musea shopping centre.
Despite catching only a fleeting glimpse of the Portugal captain, fans outside the hotel appeared happy.
Chris Chow, a university student who claimed to have been the first guest to visit Ronaldo’s museum and the first person to arrive at the Regent, said the footballer was an inspiration.
“I’m not disappointed – he’s just come from Saudi, it’s a very long journey,” Chow said. “I understand why he didn’t sign any autographs.
“Ronaldo is inspirational for young people, he works hard, and this experience is very important and can improve us. I really love him.”

Chow was confident that the forthcoming tournament would not cause a repeat of the uproar prompted by last year’s visit by Inter Miami. On that occasion, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s long-time rival, attended his US club’s match at Hong Kong Stadium but did not play, citing injury.
“Last time, Lionel Messi came to Hong Kong but he didn’t play. But now we wish Ronaldo can play the game and win the [Saudi Super Cup],” said Chow, who insisted he would not feel let-down should the 40-year-old Ronaldo play a minimal part.
Having boarded a flight departing from Riyadh late on Wednesday, Al-Nassr’s players and staff faced a slight weather-enforced delay en route, sources told the Post. After landing at Hong Kong International Airport, they were collected early on Thursday afternoon to be transferred to the hotel by coach.
Al-Nassr are among four Saudi Pro League clubs playing in the Saudi Super Cup, which will begin at Hong Kong Stadium on Tuesday. Ronaldo is expected to be the star attraction.

David Chan, a 38-year-old accountant from Hong Kong, was also among the crowd of about 50 fans who had been waiting outside the luxury hotel.
“I have friends that do work related to the hotel, and they told me he was coming,” Chan said. “I used to be a very big Ronaldo fan, from his very early days at Manchester United.
“I thought I would try my luck to see the real Ronaldo in person.”
Another fan who came to see the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was clinical psychologist June Lee.
“I heard he was coming today from staff at the museum,” Lee, in her 30s, said. “I’ve been to the museum four times, and this would be my third time to see him in person. I saw him at the [2022] World Cup, and in a hotel lobby, a similar situation to this one.”

Lee added that she had tickets for Al-Nassr’s Saudi Super Cup semi-final next Tuesday, and for the final a week on Saturday.
A couple in their 20s, who declined to give their names, said they had travelled to Hong Kong from their home across the border in Guangzhou.
They said they caught a bus on Thursday morning after hearing that Ronaldo was due to land.
Additional reporting by Mike Chan, Wynna Wong


Fifa World Cup draw: who Asian teams will play, how Ronaldo v Messi could happen

Your horoscopes for December 2025, the month of the Earth Rat: work, money and health

Cristiano Ronaldo is only foreign player worth his pay, says Saudi ex-sports chief

Ronaldo, Musk attend Trump’s White House dinner with Saudi crown prince

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo in Hong Kong: fans greet superstar’s arrival at hotel

Cristiano Ronaldo (left) arrives at the Regent Hong Kong hotel on Thursday. Photo: Dickson Lee

June Lee (left) and Chris Chow welcome Cristiano Ronaldo in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Dickson Lee

Fans wait outside the Regent Hong Kong on Thursday. Photo: Dickson Lee

Cristiano Ronaldo and his club Al-Nassr are to play in Hong Kong next week. Photo: AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo to play in Hong Kong? City to host Saudi Super Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract at Al-Nassr ends this month but he has indicated he may stay at the Saudi club. Photo: AFP

Karim Benzema (front, centre) leads Al-Ittihad celebrations after their King Cup final win. Photo: AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring for Portugal in this month’s Nations League final. Photo: dpa

Hong Kong hosting Saudi Super Cup shows deepening ties, football chief Fok says

Eric Fok (third from left) attends the launch of the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Photo: Elson Li

Eric Fok, the HKFA chairman, speaks at Wednesday’s launch. Photo: Elson Li

Cristiano Ronaldo chose Hong Kong for museum as ‘door to Asia’ – and plans to visit

A tram advertising Cristiano Ronaldo’s museum passes through Hong Kong. Photo: Sam Tsang

Cristiano Ronaldo won the Nations League with Portugal this month. Photo: dpa

Sport

Hong Kong

Football

News

Footballer and his club Al-Nassr cause a stir in the city as they arrive ahead of the Hong Kong-hosted Saudi Super Cup


Footballer and his club Al-Nassr cause a stir in the city as they arrive ahead of the Hong Kong-hosted Saudi Super Cup.


Saudi Super Cup

Saudi Pro League

Cristiano Ronaldo in Hong Kong: fans greet superstar’s arrival at hotel

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Footballer and his club Al-Nassr cause a stir in the city as they arrive ahead of the Hong Kong-hosted Saudi Super Cup

Footballer and his club Al-Nassr cause a stir in the city as they arrive ahead of the Hong Kong-hosted Saudi Super Cup