Ronaldo fan bikes 13,000km to meet star

One of Cristiano Ronaldo’s supporters rode 13,000 miles from China to Saudi Arabia for seven months to meet the Al-Nassr player. Gong, 24, left Anhui on March 18 and met Ronaldo at Al Nassr Football Club on October 20, according to South China Morning Post. Gong first headed north to Beijing, then west.

His journey from Xinjiang to Kazakhstan, Georgia, Iran, and Qatar to Riyadh, where Ronaldo is headquartered, was reported by WION. After CR7’s February ailment forced him to cancel his trip to China, his superfan suggested cycling to Riyadh. Gong travelled with two power banks, a tent, cooking utensils, clothing, and other necessities.

Gong faced language challenges, eating in nations with exorbitant prices, and tiredness from cycling for so far throughout his seven-month tour. He overcame these challenges by eating just bread in expensive areas and conversing with others using translation software. Gong says he collapsed on the road in Armenia in August due to a high temperature, but the hospital treated him for free.

The fan arrived in Riyadh on October 10, but Ronaldo was in Europe and he had to wait a few days to meet him. A fan gave Gong tickets to the Al Nassr vs. Al Shabab match, so he got to witness Ronaldo play live for the first time.

The staff promised him a one-minute fan meeting. After a difficult trek, Gong says Ronaldo shook his hand and hugged him. He also signed an Al Nassr No. 7 shirt and a banner with Gong’s friends’ names and a remark.