Profile | Cristiano Ronaldo in Hong Kong: the making of an icon, and what drives him

The excitement generated by Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence in Hong Kong this week can be attributed not only to his fame but to how long fans have waited to see him play in the city.

Their first opportunity to do so may also be the last, with Ronaldo now 40 years old – even if he has shown little desire to slow down since his arrival at Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr two years ago.

His time in Riyadh has followed a familiar pattern of goals and yet more goals, a theme through his rise to fame at Manchester United, a decade of dominance at Real Madrid, a less well regarded spell in Italy with Juventus and a doomed return to United.

His acquisition as the kingpin in Saudi Arabia’s sporting outreach, when he joined Al-Nassr in 2023 in a deal that reportedly paid him north of £175 million (US$237m) per year, is described now by the club’s CEO Jose Semedo as a “game-changer for Saudi football”.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring in a Saudi Pro League match in April. Photo: AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring in a Saudi Pro League match in April. Photo: AFP

Fans revere him for his dedication, athleticism, longevity and startling self-belief. And there are plenty of fans: he has the most Instagram followers in the world, with about 662 million.

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