Cristiano Ronaldo recently met a 24-year-old superfan from China named Gong, who cycled an astonishing 13,000 km over seven months to meet him. After facing numerous challenges, Gong finally arrived at Al Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and shared a heartwarming moment with the football legend.

Gong embarked on his journey on March 18, determined to meet Ronaldo after the player’s planned visit to China was canceled due to a leg injury. His journey took him through several countries, including Kazakhstan, Georgia, Iran, and Qatar, before he reached Riyadh on October 10. Ronaldo, who was away in Europe at the time, returned on October 20, and his team arranged a special meeting for Gong to honor his extraordinary effort. During their meeting, Ronaldo autographed Gong’s Al Nassr jersey, posed for photos with him, and signed a banner featuring the names of Gong’s friends.He also inscribed the message, "My dream is to find true love and freedom."

Gong’s journey was far from easy. He faced language barriers, physical exhaustion, and financial struggles. To communicate with locals, he relied on translation software, and when food became scarce, he made do with bread. He carried essentials like a tent, cooking utensils, clothes, and two 60,000mAh power banks on his bike to survive the grueling trip. 

At one point, while traveling through Armenia, Gong fell seriously ill with a high fever and fainted by the roadside. Fortunately, locals came to his aid and provided him with free medical treatment. Despite these hardships, Gong found the journey transformative. He shared that the experience taught him patience and maturity while also allowing him to make friends across different countries. 

While waiting in Riyadh to meet Ronaldo, Gong took the opportunity to attend an Al Nassr vs. Al Shabab match, thanks to a generous fan who offered him a free ticket. His dream finally came true when he met Ronaldo, shaking hands, sharing a hug, and exchanging smiles.

With his dream of meeting Ronaldo fulfilled, Gong now plans his next adventure—to travel to Portugal, Ronaldo’s homeland.