Ashish Pendse from Riyadh
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr will face Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami FC at the Riyadh Season Cup Invitational football tournament. And here’s an on ground peek of how Ronaldo rules the game in Saudi Arabia too.
Ronaldo museum at Boulevard City in Riyadh showcases the popularity of this once-in-a-generation athlete.
‘More than a club’… is the motto of Spanish giants Barcelona FC. And their ex-arch-rival from Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo’s mantra is; not just a footballer… In fact, he is the whole football industry.
You can feel this CR7 effect in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Riyadh’s air. As Ronaldo ruled from Manchester to Madrid and later on at Turin, Riyadh, too, is no exception. The Portuguese legend’s charismatic impact not only sets the football field on fire, but the red carpet always welcomes this modern day king of football.
No wonder that Al Nassr club CEO Guido Fienga underlined Ronaldo’s prominence. “Ronaldo will take Saudi Pro League to the next level,” he had said earlier.
Ronaldo creates his own footprint to make a huge impact on the market. From his chain of hotels at the prime spots to CR7 fitness brands attracting youths, Ronaldo still remains the heart-throb even at this age.
Young children, too, have fallen for the superstar. School-going kids are the investment for the future market. Sport is no exception. Ronaldo has made a huge impact on the kids here, as they go crazy to have a CR7 merchandise.
(Ashish Pendse is in Riyadh, covering the trip exclusively for RevSportz)