Cristiano Ronaldo to play in Hong Kong in 2025? Football chiefs discuss event – but won’t invite Messi
- Plan could revolve around Ronaldo’s Saudi club Al Nassr returning to nearby Shenzhen to play matches called off in January because of his injury
- ‘Kai Tak is opening, so we need some mega events,’ FA president Pui Kwan-kay says, though he adds ‘we’re only at the stage of consideration and discussion’
A plan to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to Hong Kong to play a match in early 2025 is being discussed by the city’s football chiefs.
The idea, which is at an early stage, involves Al Nassr, Ronaldo’s Saudi club, visiting to play in a four-team tournament, potentially in January.
Local football association president Pui Kwan-kay confirmed to the Post that there had been “initial discussions” internally.
Ronaldo and Al Nassr were in January this year poised to play two exhibition matches in Shenzhen, the mainland Chinese city that borders Hong Kong. But an injury to the Portuguese forward forced the matches to be called off the night before the first was scheduled to take place, with ticket-holders being refunded.
Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s long-time rival, sparked uproar in Hong Kong days later when he arrived in the city with his US club Inter Miami only to sit out their exhibition match, citing an injury.
