Cristiano Ronaldo museum opens in Hong Kong, drawing fans in droves

Cristiano Ronaldo’s global fandom was on full display Monday as hundreds of Hong Kong football fans lined up for hours to get a glimpse of the Portuguese superstar’s legacy at the newly opened “CR7 LIFE Museum Hong Kong” — the first exhibition of its kind outside Portugal.

Located in a luxury shopping mall, the 12,000-square-foot showcase features life-sized statues of Ronaldo, including one frozen in mid-air celebration and another dressed in traditional Saudi attire. On display are also his iconic jerseys and trophies, drawing crowds eager to celebrate the career of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is my idol… he’s special,” said 14-year-old Alvin Lai, who arrived early to secure the first spot in a queue of over 100 people. University student Henry Singh added: “He’s 40 years old and still going very strong. He’s the most hardworking person out there.”

Ronaldo, who recently renewed his contract with Saudi club Al Nassr, described it as a “new chapter” on Instagram. Al Nassr are set to play a pre-season tournament in Hong Kong next month — a timely boost for local fans.

Tomas Froes, a representative from Ronaldo’s family office, hinted the football legend will visit the museum “very soon,” further stoking anticipation.

The exhibition, organisers say, is designed to inspire. “It sends a strong message for everyone to achieve their dreams,” Froes told AFP.

The Hong Kong showcase will run for a year before moving to mainland China, marking another step in Ronaldo’s expanding global presence.