In an extraordinary act of dedication, a 24-year-old superfan named Gong cycled from China to Saudi Arabia to meet his idol Cristiano Ronaldo. The journey, which began on March 18, covered 13,000 kilometers and lasted seven months, finally bringing him to Riyadh's Al Nassr Football Club on October 20, the South China Morning Post reported.
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multi-country travel
Gong's path took him to Kazakhstan, Georgia, Iran and Qatar, among other countries, as he traversed diverse landscapes and cultures. Determined to fulfill his dream of meeting the iconic footballer, he set out on a bicycle, relying on basic provisions and a sense of resilience. Hearing about Gong's visit, Ronaldo's team arranged a memorable meeting for him outside the Al Nassr Club.
During the encounter, Ronaldo signed Gong's shirt and took several photographs with him, acknowledging the immense effort he had put in to make the journey. Despite linguistic barriers, economic constraints, and physical exhaustion, Gong remained undeterred. “It was all worth it,” he shared with the South China Morning Post.
See pictures from the meeting here:
inspiration from canceled trip
Gong's decision to go on this important trip was inspired by Ronaldo's canceled trip to China due to a foot injury in February. To prepare, they packed essential items including two 60,000mAh power banks, a tent, cooking utensils and clothes. In countries where food was expensive, he relied on bread, often using translation apps to communicate with locals. He even faced a health crisis in Armenia in August, where he fainted due to high fever, but luckily he got free treatment.
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Upon arriving in Riyadh on 10 October, Gong patiently waited for Ronaldo, who was in Europe at the time. With the help of Al Nassr FC staff and a kind fan who offered him tickets, Gong finally saw Ronaldo in action in a match between Al Nassr and Al Shabab. Their patience was rewarded with handshakes, hugs and signed jerseys.
A lifelong fan's dream come true
In addition to signing his jersey, Ronaldo signed a banner with the names of Gong's friends, which read, “What I dream of is true love and freedom.”
In China, Ronaldo, affectionately known as “Si Luo”, is celebrated for his record-breaking career, with over 900 goals and the title of most followed man on Instagram. Gong now plans to continue his travels and aims to visit Portugal, Ronaldo's homeland.