Cristiano Ronaldo fan cycles 13,000 km for 7 months across 7 countries to meet football star

Cristiano Ronaldo poses with Gong who cycled for 7 months to meet him. (Image: @iamsaadizhaan/X)

A man from China has cycled 13,000 km across seven countries spanning seven months to meet his idol, football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. The young football fan’s remarkable journey culminated in a brief yet unforgettable meeting with Ronaldo on October 20 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he plays for Al Nassr Football Club.

Gong, 24, from Anhui province, began his ambitious trek on March 18. He first travelled north to Beijing, before making his way westward through Kazakhstan and six other nations, including Georgia, Iran, and Qatar.

The inspiration behind this voyage stemmed from Ronaldo's cancelled trip to China in February due to an injury. Determined to see his hero, Gong devised a plan to cycle all the way to Saudi Arabia.

“After hearing that Ronaldo wasn’t coming, I thought, ‘Why not go to him instead?’” Gong shared with South China Morning Post. Equipped with just two 60,000mAh power banks, a tent, cooking utensils, clothes, and essential supplies, he navigated various challenges along the way, including soaring food prices in some regions that led him to subsist on bread.

His adventure was not without peril; in August, while in Armenia, Gong fell seriously ill and collapsed on the roadside. Fortunately, local authorities offered him free medical treatment, showcasing the kindness of strangers during his arduous trek.

“This journey helped me make new friends and taught me patience and maturity,” he reflected.

Upon reaching Saudi Arabia on October 10, Gong's hopes of meeting Ronaldo were momentarily dashed as the footballer was in Europe for a match. However, the staff at Al Nassr FC assured him of a one-minute fan meeting that would turn out to be the highlight of his life.

That moment finally arrived, and Gong described it as “dreamlike.” “Ronaldo shook my hand, hugged me, and signed my Al Nassr No. 7 jersey,” he recounted, proudly displaying a banner he had prepared, which featured his friends’ names and a heartfelt message: “What I dream of is true love and freedom.” Videos of the encounter flooded social media, and Gong exclaimed, “I have met my hero.”

Ronaldo, 39, often regarded as the Greatest of All Time (in terms of football) has a staggering 640 million Instagram followers and fans idolise and worship him across the world.

Gong now plans to visit Ronaldo’s hometown in Portugal next.