https://www.scmp.com/rss/517671/feed The latest stories and features on footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, including professional football news and updates. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Associated Press Associated Press Iranian club Tractor FC are set to travel to Saudi Arabia for a play-off against Shabab Al-Ahli of Dubai for a place in the Asian Champions League Elite quarter-finals against Buriram United of Thailand. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held the draw on Wednesday to determine the quarter-final pairings, a day after announcing that the western zone play-offs that were postponed because of the war in the Middle East had been rescheduled for April 13-14 in Jeddah. The Saudi city is also... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3347896/asian-champions-league-elite-irans-tractor-fc-line-quarter-final-saudi-arabia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3347896/asian-champions-league-elite-irans-tractor-fc-line-quarter-final-saudi-arabia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:52 +0000 Reuters Reuters Lionel Messi scored his 900th career goal on ⁠Wednesday to become ⁠the second player to reach ⁠the mark in elite men’s football after Cristiano Ronaldo. The 38-year-old Argentine World Cup winner brought up the milestone with a left-footed strike in Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw with Nashville SC in ‌the Concacaf Champions Cup. The 900th goal came 21 years after Messi scored his first in senior football for Barcelona as a 17-year-old in 2005. Inter manager Javier Mascherano said Messi’s tally was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3347150/lionel-messi-scores-900th-career-goal-inter-milan-match-joins-ronaldo-elite-club?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3347150/lionel-messi-scores-900th-career-goal-inter-milan-match-joins-ronaldo-elite-club?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:00:16 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg There are no tributes to the conquering heroes at Bodo airport, no banners proclaiming their success hang in the streets outside. But visitors venturing this far north should not let Scandinavian understatement detract from Bodo Glimt’s achievements and the impact on their hometown. The football team from the Norwegian Arctic fishing port have beaten giants Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City already in the Champions League this season. On Wednesday evening, they will host Sporting... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346225/uefa-champions-league-little-bodo-glimt-take-next-step-giant-killing-journey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3346225/uefa-champions-league-little-bodo-glimt-take-next-step-giant-killing-journey?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lewis Hamilton are among the sports stars whose schedules are in doubt because of the spreading war in the Middle East. Cancellations and travel shutdowns are already affecting events since the United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iran on Saturday. Organisers of Formula 1 and major football games will face decisions soon on whether the competitions can go ahead as scheduled. Middle Eastern nations have become crucial to the world sports... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3345200/us-bombing-iran-disrupts-sports-doubt-over-messi-ronaldo-games-and-f1-races?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3345200/us-bombing-iran-disrupts-sports-doubt-over-messi-ronaldo-games-and-f1-races?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 01:22:14 +0000 Associated Press,Reuters Associated Press,Reuters Cristiano Ronaldo missed his third consecutive game for Al-Nassr as the Saudi Arabian club defeated Arkadag FC of Turkmenistan 1-0 on Wednesday in the first leg of the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League Two, but will reportedly return to the field this weekend. Abdullah Al-Hamdan scored the only goal of the game in Asia’s second-tier competition to put Al-Nassr in control ahead of next week’s return match in Riyadh. Ronaldo – who has yet to win a major trophy since joining Al-Nassr in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343283/ronaldo-missing-saudi-club-al-nassr-wins-asian-champions-league-2-set-return?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343283/ronaldo-missing-saudi-club-al-nassr-wins-asian-champions-league-2-set-return?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Celebrity engagement rings have always created a buzz. Victoria Beckham’s 15 engagement rings still reappear in media headlines every few years, and Taylor Swift’s antique-cut diamond from Travis Kelce last year may have set off a whole new trend in vintage and bespoke bridal jewellery. In fact, two of the most viral internet moments in 2025 revolved around wedding bands – from the charmingly nanoscopic diamond Jeremiah gave Belly in The Summer I Turned Pretty, to the other extreme: Georgina... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3343045/divorce-rings-are-new-celebrity-bling-drake-did-it-differently?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3343045/divorce-rings-are-new-celebrity-bling-drake-did-it-differently?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 22:00:16 +0000 SCMP Style Reporter SCMP Style Reporter If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that celebrity engagement rings are no longer about quiet elegance – they’re about statements. Big ones. This year’s proposals have turned engagement rings, with their oversized oval cuts, rare coloured diamonds and deeply personal design touches, into full-blown cultural moments. But while social media is busy zooming in on the carat counts and price tags, there’s a deeper story behind these rings – one that Hong Kong’s L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, is... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3339558/style-edit-lecoles-new-course-engagement-rings-and-what-they-mean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3339558/style-edit-lecoles-new-course-engagement-rings-and-what-they-mean?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 01:59:25 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Jerseys signed by football star Cristiano Ronaldo, limited editions of Star Wars trading cards, Transformers figurines and other proprietary collectibles will be up for grabs at an annual toy fair next week in Hong Kong. They are among 150 local and international intellectual property (IP) collectibles to be showcased at the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, which will run from January 12 to 15 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. Now in its 52nd edition, the toy fair will run alongside the 17th... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338966/hong-kong-toy-fair-unveils-new-pavilion-collectors-and-global-brands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338966/hong-kong-toy-fair-unveils-new-pavilion-collectors-and-global-brands?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:54:31 +0000 Jill Lander Jill Lander January 2026 marks the Ox month, from January 5 to February 3. The element of the month is Yin Earth. The Earth Ox, yi chou, represents the 12th and final month of the Chinese calendar. Now is the time to reflect on the shared experiences of the past year to prepare for the year ahead – the third of the current 20-year feng shui cycle, which began in 2024. Be prepared for a period of major change ahead, acknowledge strengths and weaknesses, and learn from the past. At the beginning of any new... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3338883/horoscopes-whats-your-luck-january-2026-earth-ox-month-we-head-fire-horse-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3338883/horoscopes-whats-your-luck-january-2026-earth-ox-month-we-head-fire-horse-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 08:00:16 +0000 Reuters Reuters Bigger does not always mean better but try telling that to those who govern the world’s most popular sport as they reflect on a jam-packed year and begin the countdown to a supersized World Cup that will dwarf previous tournaments. World football’s governing body, Fifa – not to mention continental confederations, national leagues and broadcasters – will argue that the appetite for the “beautiful game” is insatiable and will point to the past 12 months as evidence. Fifa described its expanded... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3337740/year-football-expansion-mismatches-point-direction-fifa-will-take-beautiful-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3337740/year-football-expansion-mismatches-point-direction-fifa-will-take-beautiful-game?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:00:42 +0000 Tom Bell Tom Bell Nine Asian and Pacific nations discovered their 2026 Fifa World Cup opponents when the tournament draw took place in Washington on Friday, while the Saudi-based Cristiano Ronaldo learned he could share a last dance of sorts with Lionel Messi. Japan, Asia’s highest-ranked team at world No 18, are expected to trouble the seeded Netherlands at the finals next June and July in the United States, Canada and Mexico. But the theoretically weaker sides joining them in Group F are Tunisia, who qualified... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3335450/fifa-world-cup-draw-sets-ronaldo-v-messi-japan-set-shared-goal-winning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3335450/fifa-world-cup-draw-sets-ronaldo-v-messi-japan-set-shared-goal-winning?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 07:50:50 +0000 Jill Lander Jill Lander It’s December 2025, marking the Rat Month from December 7 to January 4. The elements of the month are Yang Earth and Water. The Earth Rat, wu zi, represents the 11th and penultimate month of the Chinese calendar. The energy of 2025 asked for a letting-go attitude; 2026 asks you to rise and shine with an encouraging, renewed perspective. In traditional Chinese culture, the energy of those born under the sign of the Rat (1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 and 2020) is highly playful and active,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3335329/your-horoscopes-december-2025-month-earth-rat-work-money-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3335329/your-horoscopes-december-2025-month-earth-rat-work-money-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 06:00:23 +0000 Reuters Reuters Former Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad said Cristiano Ronaldo – who joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 – was the only foreign player in the Saudi Pro League who truly deserved his multimillion-dollar salary. Abdullah, who was in the post from 2014 to 2017 – before the huge influx of foreign players that has transformed the league – also warned that the influx was sidelining local talent and threatening the national team’s future. In an interview with the Fi Al-Marama TV programme... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334411/cristiano-ronaldo-only-foreign-player-worth-his-pay-says-saudi-ex-sports-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334411/cristiano-ronaldo-only-foreign-player-worth-his-pay-says-saudi-ex-sports-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 17:00:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and billionaire Elon Musk were among the guests at a lavish White House dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump for the visiting Saudi crown prince on Tuesday. Ronaldo plays for Saudi club Al Nassr, one of a number of ageing players who have been attracted to the desert kingdom’s heavy spending on stars despite its rights record. The 40-year-old, whose contract with the Saudi club ends this summer, took his place near the head of Trump’s table a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3333359/ronaldo-musk-attend-trumps-white-house-dinner-saudi-crown-prince?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3333359/ronaldo-musk-attend-trumps-white-house-dinner-saudi-crown-prince?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 05:30:59 +0000 Carla Thomas Carla Thomas Georgina Rodríguez, long-time partner to Cristiano Ronaldo, is living the kind of life that half the world’s population would probably trade places for in a heartbeat. Newly engaged to one of football’s biggest stars, the 31-year-old social media star moves seamlessly between front-row seats at fashion week, superyacht getaways and private jet hops, all while curating a wardrobe stacked with designer labels, luxury bags and shoes. And then there are the watches: a diamond-studded collection... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3330072/13-watches-georgina-rodriguezs-ultra-luxury-collection-rolex-cartier-and-chopard?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3330072/13-watches-georgina-rodriguezs-ultra-luxury-collection-rolex-cartier-and-chopard?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 22:00:17 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Rio Ferdinand has said the Red on Red legends match at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday would provide a welcome opportunity to “see the old gang again and have a few beers”. The decorated former England defender will skipper a “Rio 11” made up of ex-Manchester United players including Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov and Nicky Butt, who finished his career with Hong Kong club South China in 2011. They will tackle a “Gerrard 11” captained by Liverpool great Steven Gerrard, who last week rejected the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3329063/rio-ferdinand-driven-pride-giving-back-and-beer-united-v-liverpool-old-boys-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3329063/rio-ferdinand-driven-pride-giving-back-and-beer-united-v-liverpool-old-boys-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 04:30:14 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Son Heung-min has been named Best Footballer in Asia for 2025 to claim the crown for a remarkable 10th time. The South Korean beat his compatriot Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain into second place, with Al-Nassr’s Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in third. The award was established in 2013 and is open to players from Asia and those who ply their trade on the continent. A panel of 64 Asian football experts voted in the latest edition, which considered performances from August 16 last year... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3328763/son-heung-min-beats-cristiano-ronaldo-win-asian-award?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3328763/son-heung-min-beats-cristiano-ronaldo-win-asian-award?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 05:39:58 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Cristiano Ronaldo has broken through another barrier, becoming the first active footballer in history to be a billionaire, with a net worth of a staggering £1.045 billion (US$1.35 billion). The Portuguese star reportedly joined the ‘three comma club’ after signing another lucrative two-year deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, which the Bloomberg Billionaire Index placed at a tax-free £492 million. And despite putting a mammoth gap between himself and Lionel Messi, whose net worth is a paltry... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3328261/cristiano-ronaldo-makes-history-first-billionaire-footballer-after-hefty-saudi-payday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3328261/cristiano-ronaldo-makes-history-first-billionaire-footballer-after-hefty-saudi-payday?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:27:43 +0000 Salomé Grouard Salomé Grouard The spectacle of the ring has reached a new crescendo in the world of celebrity engagements. Consider last month, when Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo proposed to his partner Georgina Rodríguez with a staggering oval-cut diamond estimated to be between 25 and 35 carats – a stone so commanding it dominated her finger and ignited gossip columns. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Georgina Rodríguez (@georginagio) But this maximalist... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3326334/why-engagement-rings-keep-getting-bigger-taylor-swifts-one-chosen-cristiano-ronaldo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3326334/why-engagement-rings-keep-getting-bigger-taylor-swifts-one-chosen-cristiano-ronaldo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 06:00:12 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang While Hong Kong manufacturers were tackling the havoc caused by US President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” earlier this year, Ken Tsoi Wing-sing and his daughter were busy launching a museum dedicated to football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in the city. Tsoi, chairman of listed firm Star Shine Holdings Group, said in an exclusive interview with the Post that the company’s HK$70 million (US$9 million) investment in the CR7 Life Museum in Tsim Sha Tsui marked its maiden foray into... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325492/how-low-key-hong-kong-entrepreneur-daughter-aim-score-ronaldo-museum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325492/how-low-key-hong-kong-entrepreneur-daughter-aim-score-ronaldo-museum?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 10:00:26 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Former English Premier League stars could make the difference in the Asian Champions League, which begins on Monday, with Ivan Toney, Jesse Lingard, Riyad Mahrez and Darwin Nunez all having a chance of winning Asian football’s premier club tournament. Saudi clubs dominated last season, providing three of the semi-finalists before Al-Ahli won the final in front of 60,000 spectators in Jeddah in May. Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal are also back and expected to challenge again for the title. Since the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3325379/asian-champions-league-ex-english-premier-league-players-set-star-new-season-starts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3325379/asian-champions-league-ex-english-premier-league-players-set-star-new-season-starts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:00:20 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification It is evident that Hong Kong has enjoyed some incredible football moments this year. Last year, the entire city was abuzz with the prospect of watching Lionel Messi and his team Inter Miami,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3324133/after-showcasing-football-stars-hong-kong-must-focus-local-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3324133/after-showcasing-football-stars-hong-kong-must-focus-local-game?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 03:30:07 +0000 Carla Thomas Carla Thomas Cristiano Ronaldo: the man, the myth, the GOAT – and the owner of a jaw-dropping US$10 million watch collection. In much the same way that he dominates on the pitch, CR7 has taken his horological hobby to stratospheric levels, fuelled by multimillion-dollar contracts, endorsements, brand collaborations and his record-breaking deal with Saudi football club Al-Nassr, worth an eye-watering US$640,000 a day. (He’s also recently become a part owner of the team, which reached the finals of this year’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3324128/6-dazzling-additions-cristiano-ronaldos-luxury-watch-collection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3324128/6-dazzling-additions-cristiano-ronaldos-luxury-watch-collection?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 22:00:09 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Roberto Losada said it had been hard to summon the motivation for another campaign of fighting the odds, after his Eastern squad was again ransacked over the summer by overseas clubs and a big-spending Hong Kong Premier League opponent. Coach of the year for the past three seasons, Losada overcame the loss of five key players midway through last term to lead Eastern to FA Cup and Senior Shield glory. But prolific goal scorer Noah Baffoe, who has joined title rivals Lee Man, spearheaded a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323274/hong-kongs-top-coach-struggling-motivation-after-overseas-clubs-title-rivals-ransack-squad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323274/hong-kongs-top-coach-struggling-motivation-after-overseas-clubs-title-rivals-ransack-squad?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 04:29:21 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The city’s finance chief has pledged to speed up plans to establish a trade office in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, stressing the need for Hong Kong to further tap Middle Eastern investors seeking to diversify outside the US and Europe because of geopolitical risks. While Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also noted on his weekly blog on Sunday that there was potential to increase the frequency of flights between the two cities, Cathay Pacific said it would review its schedule and network... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3322971/saudi-super-cup-prompts-hong-kongs-paul-chan-press-riyadh-trade-office?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3322971/saudi-super-cup-prompts-hong-kongs-paul-chan-press-riyadh-trade-office?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 08:08:13 +0000 Paul McNamara,Josh Ball Paul McNamara,Josh Ball The CEO of the Saudi Pro League has played down any suggestion of his competition following in the footsteps of Spain’s La Liga by taking a regular-season match overseas. Omar Mugharbel said this week’s Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong was his country’s means of exposing its Pro League (SPL) to global audiences, along with a long list of broadcast partnerships. La Liga chiefs are planning for Villarreal to play their home match against Barcelona in Miami in December. The idea has been met with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322930/hong-kong-event-part-saudi-footballs-push-rank-among-worlds-best-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322930/hong-kong-event-part-saudi-footballs-push-rank-among-worlds-best-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Tom Bell,Lars Hamer,Paul McNamara Tom Bell,Lars Hamer,Paul McNamara Football fans were granted most of their wishes at Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday as the Saudi Super Cup concluded with a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo, even if the Portuguese was narrowly denied the silverware. Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr may have been beaten by Al-Ahli in a deciding penalty shoot-out, but the plaudits were largely for the man wearing No 7, the organisers’ star asset as they brought the tournament to East Asia for the first time. A crowd of about 30,000 cheered Ronaldo’s every... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3322945/ronaldo-wows-hong-kong-saudi-super-cup-given-very-satisfactory-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3322945/ronaldo-wows-hong-kong-saudi-super-cup-given-very-satisfactory-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 16:13:55 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr trophy drought will enter a third year after Al-Ahli twice recovered from falling behind to draw 2-2, then beat the Portuguese’s side 5-3 on penalties in Saturday’s Saudi Super Cup final. A shoot-out saw Ronaldo convert his kick, having earlier netted his team’s opening goal of the match, also from the penalty spot. But Edouard Mendy saved Al-Nassr’s fourth kick, from Abdullah Al-Khaibari, before Wenderson Galeno completed a perfect set of Al-Ahli penalties to win... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322940/saudi-super-cup-hong-kong-ronaldos-al-nassr-lose-final-penalties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322940/saudi-super-cup-hong-kong-ronaldos-al-nassr-lose-final-penalties?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 14:29:11 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Thousands of fans descended on Hong Kong Stadium to watch Cristiano Ronaldo play in the final of the Saudi Super Cup on Saturday. Even if the supercharged atmosphere that followed the footballing superstar to the arena earlier this week was somewhat reduced for the final, hundreds of fans had already arrived at the stadium in Causeway Bay two hours before Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr kicked off against Al-Ahli. And while the black clouds that prompted the No 1 typhoon signal threatened to put a dampener... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3322932/saudi-super-cup-ronaldo-mania-more-subdued-fans-return-hong-kong-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3322932/saudi-super-cup-ronaldo-mania-more-subdued-fans-return-hong-kong-final?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 12:43:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The appearance in Hong Kong of Cristiano Ronaldo, one of football’s greatest players, has thrilled fans and further boosted the city’s reputation as a host for the sport’s superstars. Ronaldo fever will reach a peak on Saturday evening, when his Al-Nassr team plays rivals Al-Ahli at Hong Kong Stadium in the Saudi Super Cup final. The competition has built on the success of the Football Festival last month, which featured three leading English teams and one from Italy. A crowd of more than 30,000... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322776/hong-kong-needs-more-facilities-ensure-football-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322776/hong-kong-needs-more-facilities-ensure-football-all?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Ivan Toney has blasted the “crazy treatment” of his Al-Ahli team at the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong. England striker Toney was on the scoresheet when Al-Ahli thumped Al-Qadsiah 5-1 on Wednesday to book a Saturday night final date with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. Late replacements for Al-Hilal, who withdrew from the competition following their involvement in the summer Club World Cup, Al-Ahli arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday. “To be honest, the preparation and how we’ve been treated has been... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322868/ivan-toney-blasts-crazy-treatment-al-ahli-saudi-super-cup-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322868/ivan-toney-blasts-crazy-treatment-al-ahli-saudi-super-cup-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 12:30:21 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Jorge Jesus has tipped Al-Nassr to surf the wave of energy generated by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in their Saudi Super Cup final against Al-Ahli on Saturday. Ronaldo fever swept Hong Kong Stadium on Tuesday, as head coach Jesus’s team overcame the first-half dismissal of Sadio Mane to beat Al-Ittihad 2-1 in their semi-final. And Jesus was anticipating another animated and one-sided crowd when his side tackle the reigning Asian champions back at the same venue this weekend. “I am expecting the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322844/al-nassr-boss-tips-cristiano-ronaldo-fever-return-hong-kong-stadium-saudi-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322844/al-nassr-boss-tips-cristiano-ronaldo-fever-return-hong-kong-stadium-saudi-final?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:31:51 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. How the Philippines forced China to adjust historic mission to moon’s far side Chinese space engineers made small but deliberate changes to last year’s historic sample retrieval mission to the far side of the moon to avoid political... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3322738/plane-software-mastermind-leaves-us-china-trump-top-mediator-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3322738/plane-software-mastermind-leaves-us-china-trump-top-mediator-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 04:12:08 +0000 Lorraine Chiang Lorraine Chiang Restaurants and bars near Hong Kong Stadium have enjoyed a spike in business of at least 20 per cent thanks to the city hosting the Saudi Super Cup and are gearing up for Saturday’s final when football legend Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play again. More than 30,000 spectators watched Ronaldo and his team Al-Nassr beat Al-Ittihad 2-1 at the Causeway Bay stadium on Tuesday. Al-Nassr will play Al-Ahli, which swept aside Al-Qadsiah 5-1 on Wednesday evening, in the final. Yuga, a cha chaan teng, or... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3322566/bars-near-hong-kong-stadium-hoping-another-big-score-ronaldo-match?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3322566/bars-near-hong-kong-stadium-hoping-another-big-score-ronaldo-match?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:22:01 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Al-Ahli stand in the way of Cristiano Ronaldo and Saudi Super Cup glory after they beat Al-Qadsiah 5-1 in a heavily VAR-influenced semi-final at Hong Kong Stadium on Wednesday. On a night that felt very much like after the Lord Mayor’s show, 24 hours on from Cristiano Ronaldo mania sweeping the same venue, Al-Ahli were stung into action after Gaston Alvarez headed their opponents into an eighth-minute lead. Franck Kessie capitalised on some lax defending to equalise four minutes later, before... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322564/saudi-super-cup-al-ahli-sweep-aside-al-qadsiah-book-final-date-ronaldo-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322564/saudi-super-cup-al-ahli-sweep-aside-al-qadsiah-book-final-date-ronaldo-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 14:29:01 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Scenes outside Hong Kong Stadium on Wednesday could not have been any more different to just 24 hours earlier, when football megastar Cristiano Ronaldo pulled 30,000 fans from across the world to the venue in Causeway Bay. What a difference a day makes. Walking towards the stadium two hours before Wednesday’s 8pm kick-off, you could easily be forgiven for not knowing there was a match going to take place. Al-Qadsiah were playing Al-Ahli Saudi in the second semi-final of the Saudi Super Cup, by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3322555/saudi-super-cup-post-ronaldo-slump-hits-second-semi-final-fans-mix-business-pleasure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3322555/saudi-super-cup-post-ronaldo-slump-hits-second-semi-final-fans-mix-business-pleasure?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 13:09:36 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Jorge Jesus acknowledged the pulling power of “global phenomenon” Cristiano Ronaldo lured more than 30,000 people to watch his Al-Nassr team beat Al-Ittihad in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Supporters turned the tired Hong Kong Stadium into a colourful corner of Riyadh, as they roared Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr into Saturday’s Saudi Super Cup final. The 2-1 victory over last season’s league and cup winners Al-Ittihad was all the more impressive for the fact Jesus’ team played with 10 men for more than an hour... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322469/al-nassr-boss-says-global-phenomenon-cristiano-ronaldo-biggest-show-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322469/al-nassr-boss-says-global-phenomenon-cristiano-ronaldo-biggest-show-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 07:30:09 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Cristiano Ronaldo extended his Hong Kong adventure on Tuesday, creating the winning goal for 10-man Al-Nassr to beat Al-Ittihad 2-1 on a night of high drama at Hong Kong Stadium. With the teams level, and Al-Nassr reduced by the 25th-minute dismissal of Sadio Mane, Ronaldo galloped onto a ball from Nawaf Boushal in the 61st minute and unselfishly presented Joao Felix with the easiest of debut goals. When an original decision to disallow the strike for offside against Ronaldo was overturned, he... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322419/saudi-super-cup-cristiano-ronaldo-creates-winner-al-nassr-beat-al-ittihad-semi-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322419/saudi-super-cup-cristiano-ronaldo-creates-winner-al-nassr-beat-al-ittihad-semi-final?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:26:18 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Thousands of football fans descended on Hong Kong Stadium hours before Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr took on Al-Ittihad in the first semi-final of the Saudi Super Cup on Tuesday. All roads leading to the stadium were a sea of jerseys sporting Ronaldo’s name on the back, as thousands from Hong Kong, Macau, mainland China and Saudi Arabia made their way to the ground. There was even one spectator wearing a shirt that combined Al-Nassr, Real Madrid and Manchester United colours and badges, all teams... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3322401/saudi-super-cup-ronaldo-fever-strikes-again-fans-flock-stadium-hours-kick?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3322401/saudi-super-cup-ronaldo-fever-strikes-again-fans-flock-stadium-hours-kick?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 11:39:09 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Hong Kong is this week playing host to the Saudi Super Cup, which is why Cristiano Ronaldo is in town. The tournament has been running annually since 2013 but this is the third edition of its four-team format. It brings together the winners and runners-up from the Saudi Pro League and the country’s King's Cup in a mini-tournament, comprising two semi-finals and a final at Hong Kong Stadium. Hong Kong is its third overseas host city after London – three times – and Abu Dhabi. Al-Nassr will play... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322374/saudi-super-cup-cristiano-ronaldos-hong-kong-who-else-coming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322374/saudi-super-cup-cristiano-ronaldos-hong-kong-who-else-coming?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 08:47:58 +0000 Paul McNamara,Mike Chan Paul McNamara,Mike Chan As Cristiano Ronaldo prepared to play at Hong Kong Stadium on Tuesday, the Post was granted an exclusive tour of his CR7 Life Museum by members of his inner circle. Joining a delegation from his Saudi club, Al-Nassr, for the short stroll from their Regent Hong Kong hotel to the K11 Musea shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, we spent around 30 minutes circling a testimonial to an extraordinary career. Jorge Jesus, the new Al-Nassr head coach, was particularly drawn to memorabilia celebrating... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322332/inside-cristiano-ronaldos-cr7-life-museum-and-al-nassr-meet-bruce-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322332/inside-cristiano-ronaldos-cr7-life-museum-and-al-nassr-meet-bruce-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 07:00:10 +0000 Lars Hamer,Paul McNamara Lars Hamer,Paul McNamara Football clubs in Hong Kong have called for better communication from the city’s governing body after it cancelled bookings of facilities to hand them over to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and their rival Saudi Super Cup teams. Recreational groups and Premier League clubs received messages at late notice stating that pitches were to be taken off them so that the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) could block-book them for the four visiting Saudi sides. Premier League club Eastern... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322323/hong-kong-footballers-say-pitch-bookings-were-cancelled-ronaldos-team-use?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322323/hong-kong-footballers-say-pitch-bookings-were-cancelled-ronaldos-team-use?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 04:58:09 +0000 Lorraine Chiang Lorraine Chiang Hong Kong’s much-awaited hosting of the Saudi Super Cup, featuring football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, has brought thousands of fans to the city and may give a boost to restaurant operators, who are optimistic about an increase in business of up to 30 per cent. Fans have been following Ronaldo’s every move since his arrival in the city on Thursday last week, as they try to catch a glimpse of him training or making a surprise visit to his CR7 Life Museum at the K11 Musea shopping centre. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3322282/ronaldo-hong-kong-restaurants-eye-30-business-boost-saudi-super-cup-kicks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3322282/ronaldo-hong-kong-restaurants-eye-30-business-boost-saudi-super-cup-kicks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:30:09 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara New Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus has said on the eve of the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong that the opportunity to manage Cristiano Ronaldo was a “big incentive” to accept a new challenge at 71. Al-Nassr are the 16th club of Jesus’ cosmopolitan career, after he was tasked with masterminding overdue Saudi success for superstar Ronaldo. The forward, who has plundered 93 goals in 105 Al-Nassr appearances, is in Hong Kong chasing only his second piece of silverware in 2½ years with the Riyadh side,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3322272/ronaldo-hong-kong-new-al-nassr-boss-says-coaching-cr7-was-incentive-join?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3322272/ronaldo-hong-kong-new-al-nassr-boss-says-coaching-cr7-was-incentive-join?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:30:07 +0000 Paul McNamara,Tom Bell Paul McNamara,Tom Bell 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... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322279/cristiano-ronaldo-hong-kong-making-icon-and-what-drives-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322279/cristiano-ronaldo-hong-kong-making-icon-and-what-drives-him?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 22:00:27 +0000 Paul McNamara,Mike Chan Paul McNamara,Mike Chan This week’s Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong could help deepen ties between two “very powerful countries” in Saudi Arabia and China, a leading executive from Cristiano Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr has said. The four-team competition is being staged in Hong Kong for the first time, with Al-Nassr set to meet Saudi champions Al-Ittihad in the first semi-final on Tuesday night. The two nations expanded cooperation during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2022 visit to the kingdom, and Hong Kong has since forged... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322268/ronaldos-hong-kong-visit-can-boost-china-saudi-ties-al-nassr-executive-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322268/ronaldos-hong-kong-visit-can-boost-china-saudi-ties-al-nassr-executive-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:04:47 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Cristiano Ronaldo is not the only Manchester United legend visiting Hong Kong this week. Peter Schmeichel is, too, for a JC Youth Football Academy Summit that the Danish former goalkeeper predicted would leave a lasting impression locally. Organised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the summit saw young Hong Kong sides and local children engaging with the Manchester United academy, Schmeichel and former United defender Phil Jones. United’s academy drew 3-3 with a local Premier Youth League Select on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322213/footballers-visiting-hong-kong-vital-local-kids-manchester-united-legend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322213/footballers-visiting-hong-kong-vital-local-kids-manchester-united-legend?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 09:15:14 +0000 Wynna Wong,Emily Hung Wynna Wong,Emily Hung Cristiano Ronaldo has made a surprise appearance at a museum in Tsim Sha Tsui dedicated to honouring his career during his visit to Hong Kong for the Saudi Super Cup, with fans waiting for hours outside the venue to catch a glimpse of the football legend. A Post reporter saw Ronaldo arriving at the CR7 Life Museum in the K11 Musea shopping centre at 8.30pm on Sunday, with fans crowding the entrance and cheering as they spotted him touring the venue. The star player briefly stepped out and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322149/cristiano-ronaldo-surprises-fans-museum-visit-hong-kongs-tsim-sha-tsui?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322149/cristiano-ronaldo-surprises-fans-museum-visit-hong-kongs-tsim-sha-tsui?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 14:25:08 +0000 Mike Chan,Paul McNamara,Lars Hamer Mike Chan,Paul McNamara,Lars Hamer Al-Ahli, the last of the Saudi Super Cup teams landed in Hong Kong on Sunday and will stay at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Wan Chai, where they were greeted by over 50 fans. The fans, mostly men between the ages of 20 and 40, had come to catch a glimpse of former Premier League footballers Riyad Mahrez, Ivan Toney and Edouard Mendy. John Kulpakdeesinghworn, 41, travelled to Hong Kong from Thailand to see former Leicester City winger Mahrez. The country has a strong Leicester following, as the club... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322117/cristiano-ronaldo-al-nassr-head-early-sunday-training-session?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322117/cristiano-ronaldo-al-nassr-head-early-sunday-training-session?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 04:06:54 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Cristiano Ronaldo will travel to India to face FC Goa in an Asian Champions League Two match being hailed as “historic” in the country. Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia and their superstars were drawn on Friday against the Indian Super League (ISL) club in Group D of Asia’s second-tier club competition, along with Istiklol of Tajikistan and Iraq’s Al-Zawraa. The top two from each of the eight groups advance to the second round. “This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment for FC Goa,” club CEO Ravi Puskur... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322091/cristiano-ronaldo-match-goa-dubbed-biggest-indian-club-football-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322091/cristiano-ronaldo-match-goa-dubbed-biggest-indian-club-football-history?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Aug 2025 09:41:39 +0000