Cristiano Ronaldo draws excited crowds in HK for Saudi Super Cup debut

Hong Kong Stadium buzzed with anticipation on Tuesday evening as fans started arriving from 6 p.m. for the Saudi Super Cup semi-final starring Cristiano Ronaldo and his team, Al-Nassr.

Even before the match began, the atmosphere outside the venue was electric. Enthusiastic supporters—including visiting fans of the opposing team, Al-Ittihad—were heard singing club anthems, contributing to a lively and festive mood.

The event marked Ronaldo’s first competitive match in Hong Kong, attracting an outpouring of excitement from both local and mainland Chinese fans.

Despite heavy traffic around the stadium, the high spirits were undimmed, with many opting to walk to the venue, creating steady flows of fans entering the grounds. Inside, the stands presented a vivid display dominated by Al-Nassr’s yellow and the familiar red of Manchester United and Portugal—all paying tribute to Ronaldo.

The lower tier of the stadium was particularly notable, filled overwhelmingly with devoted Ronaldo supporters, creating a striking visual.

One of them, Leung, mentioned that he had been a Ronaldo supporter for more than ten years and that this was his first time watching the star play live. He added that he had spent the entire week preparing for the event, including waiting outside Ronaldo’s hotel for over ten hours the previous day.

He expressed his excitement at finally seeing his idol up close.

Another fan, Ho, shared that he had also admired Ronaldo for six years and that this match marked his first in-person experience watching him play. He admitted he had been too excited to sleep the night before and described feeling overjoyed when he finally secured a ticket after two attempts.

He also mentioned that Ronaldo’s visit felt especially meaningful since the footballer had been unable to come last year due to injury. Additionally, he noted his earlier concerns about potential rain, but expressed relief that the weather had remained clear.

Zou, a tourist from Shenzhen, explained that this was her first time attending a football match in Hong Kong. She brought both a Portugal jersey and an Al-Nassr kit to show her support. She mentioned her hope that she might be lucky enough to get Ronaldo’s autograph and reflected that although she became a fan during the 2022 World Cup, she regretted not having seen him play during his peak years at Real Madrid.

Ma, who traveled from Zhejiang specifically for the match, said his children had been fans of Ronaldo since they were young. He remarked that although it had been difficult to obtain the tickets, which he purchased a week earlier, he believed that true admiration transcends boundaries—adding that they came purely out of love for Ronaldo.