Ronaldo Given Hero’s Welcome in Hong Kong

Cristiano Ronaldo was greeted to thunderous cheers on Tuesday as he played a decisive role in Al Nassr’s 2-1 Saudi Super Cup victory over Al Ittihad in Hong Kong — a venue where Lionel Messi was booed last year for failing to take the field.

The 40-year-old Portuguese forward, wearing his iconic No. 7 shirt, drew chants of “Ronaldo, Ronaldo” from the crowd from the moment he began warming up on a humid evening. Every touch from the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was met with applause, with several young fans attempting to invade the pitch in hopes of getting close to him.

Ronaldo, who narrowly missed scoring from a free-kick, set up the winner by racing past Al Ittihad’s defence before squaring the ball to compatriot Joao Felix — a recent signing from Chelsea — to seal the victory. Earlier, Sadio Mane had put Al Nassr ahead before being sent off following a VAR review. Karim Benzema led Al Ittihad’s frontline but failed to find the net.

The reception stood in stark contrast to Messi’s appearance in Hong Kong last February, when the Argentine World Cup winner remained on the bench for Inter Miami, sparking widespread outrage. Fans demanded refunds, while Chinese authorities reacted angrily, cancelling Argentina’s scheduled friendlies in the country.

Messi insisted he was injured at the time, but the fallout intensified after he played a match in Japan days later, with some Chinese media and politicians interpreting the move as a slight.

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Despite being in the twilight of their careers, both Messi and Ronaldo continue to captivate global audiences. In Hong Kong, fans camped outside Ronaldo’s hotel, some even booking rooms in hopes of catching a glimpse of him. A local museum dedicated to the forward opened last month.

“This means more to me than any trophy,” Ronaldo was quoted by local media as saying, describing his emotions after learning of the strong support, particularly from younger fans.

Security had to intervene multiple times during and after the match to prevent fans from reaching the superstar. One young supporter wearing a Ronaldo shirt was stopped after running onto the pitch in the closing minutes, while two others were restrained after the final whistle.