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