Chinese football enthusiasts eagerly secured tickets to witness Cristiano Ronaldo play in a rare match on Chinese soil, with reports suggesting that the tickets were completely sold out within hours of their official release.
Ronaldo holds a special place in the hearts of Chinese fans, who have endured inconsistent performances from their national team and a domestically troubled football structure. Al-Nassr, CR7’s current club, unveiled a “China Tour” itinerary, featuring friendly matches against Shanghai Shenhua and Zhejiang FC in Shenzhen city on January 24 and 28, 2024.
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The announcement sent fans into a frenzy as they vied against each other to secure a spot at the highly anticipated match. Ticket sales commenced at around 11:00 AM (China time) on January 3, 2024, and by evening, all available tickets were reported to be sold out.
According to Chinese media outlets, seats in all categories, except the two most expensive ones, were snapped up “within seconds.” Die-hard supporters expressed their excitement, with one enthusiast stating, “On January 24, I will be the happiest girl in the whole world.”
Another fan remarked, “Whatever you think of Ronaldo, you can’t deny his greatness as a player. Today, his China tickets came on sale, and I actually got one!”
This frenzy around international football stars playing in China is not new. Ronaldo’s longtime rival, Lionel Messi, visited Beijing last year and made a memorable impact by scoring within 79 seconds to lead his country, Argentina, to a 2-0 victory in a friendly match against Australia. The popularity of such events underscores the immense appeal and global following of football icons like Ronaldo and Messi, even in regions with distinct football cultures like China.
