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Meet ‘Hong Kong’s Cristiano Ronaldo’, Matt Orr: the 26-year-old began playing at age four and just helped the city to the Asian Games quarter-final for the first time in 65 years

Meet Hong Kong’s answer to Cristiano Ronaldo, Matt Orr. Photo: @mattorr8/Instagram
Meet Hong Kong’s answer to Cristiano Ronaldo, Matt Orr. Photo: @mattorr8/Instagram

  • Matt Orr’s recent goal against Palestine in the Asian Games helped catapult Hong Kong to the quarter-finals – the first time the city had reached the last 8 of the competition in 65 years
  • The born-and-bred Hongkonger honed his skills at Kitchee SC and inherited his love of football from his Kiwi dad – who used to play professionally for New Zealand

Hong Kong professional footballer Matt Orr has established a remarkable reputation in the city’s sporting sphere of late.

Orr, who plays striker, netted a pivotal goal against Palestine just last month at the Asian Games. The goal gave Hong Kong a 1-0 win, advancing them into the quarter-finals.

Matt Orr scored a crucial goal against Palestine in the Asian Games, putting Hong Kong through to the next stage. Photo: @mattorr8/Instagram
Matt Orr scored a crucial goal against Palestine in the Asian Games, putting Hong Kong through to the next stage. Photo: @mattorr8/Instagram
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It was a defining moment for the city, as it marked the first time Hong Kong secured a position among the top eight contenders in the Asian Games since 1958.

Although the team suffered a 4-0 defeat to Japan last Wednesday during the semi-finals, Orr’s prowess on the field and dashing good looks have earned him the title of “Hong Kong’s Cristiano Ronaldo” from fans and the local media.

Here’s what we know about Hong Kong’s budding football star.

Matt Orr was born and raised in Hong Kong

Matt Orr with his family. Photo: @mattorr8/Instagram
Matt Orr with his family. Photo: @mattorr8/Instagram

Matthew Elliot Wing Kai Chin Orr was born in Hong Kong to parents Andrew Orr and Janice Chinn on January 1, 1997. His father is from New Zealand and his mother is Chinese.

The 26-year-old attended Canadian International School in Hong Kong and at just 11 years old joined Kitchee’s Academy, a football academy in Hong Kong, according to Sportsroad.

He always knew he wanted to be a football player

Hong Kong striker Matt Orr battles for the ball during his side’s East Asian Football Championship game against South Korea last year. Photo: HKFA
Hong Kong striker Matt Orr battles for the ball during his side’s East Asian Football Championship game against South Korea last year. Photo: HKFA

Orr decided early on that he wanted to pursue football professionally. The Hong Kong striker has been playing the sport since he was four and largely owes his passion for it to his father, who was also a professional player for New Zealand.