A dedicated Chinese fan, 24-year-old Gong, has cycled an incredible 13,000 kilometers from China to Saudi Arabia to meet his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. Starting his journey on March 18 from Anhui province, Gong finally met the football superstar outside the Al Nassr Football Club on October 20, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
Gong’s route took him through multiple countries, including a northward detour to Beijing before heading west through Xinjiang and Kazakhstan, ultimately crossing six more nations such as Georgia, Iran, and Qatar to reach Riyadh. His inspiration for this ambitious trek stemmed from Ronaldo’s canceled trip to China earlier this year due to injury.
Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo Greets in Arabic, Delights Fans in Saudi Arabia
Throughout his seven-month journey, Gong faced numerous challenges, including language barriers, rising food prices, and the physical demands of long-distance cycling. Often, he had to rely on simple bread for sustenance in areas with expensive food. He used translation software to communicate with locals and navigated many hurdles along the way.
Upon reaching Riyadh on October 10, Gong had to wait to meet Ronaldo as the player was in Europe. However, staff at Al Nassr assured him of a brief meeting, and he even got to watch Ronaldo play live during the Al Nassr vs. Al Shabab match, thanks to a ticket gifted by another fan. When they finally met, Ronaldo greeted Gong warmly, signing his No. 7 Al Nassr jersey and a banner featuring the names of Gong’s friends, leaving the fan with an unforgettable experience.
