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“What Dubai has done is amazing and impressive,” said the Manchester United star.
Old Trafford seemed to be in Dubai, with thousands of fans deafeningly cheering as they saw football legend Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time at Expo 2020
As Ronaldo rose from the stage at Plaza de Albas, a crowd of fans – many jerseys and T-shirts with pictures of the star – stared as the Portugal and Manchester United star waved to them . The roar is just right.
“I never expected to be greeted with such a grand welcome in such a large crowd,” the star said.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he loves Dubai and visits it every year. “Everything Dubai does is amazing and impressive. I’m not surprised by what’s going on here. It’s amazing to see how things are possible here.
“The Expo is incredibly impressive. It’s a very exciting thing to bring the cultures and traditions of 192 countries under one roof,” he said.
The 37-year-old footballer told fans as far away as India to take care of their physical and mental health. “I’m healthy because I take care of my body. Do whatever makes your body and mind healthy,” he said.
Ronaldo, whose partner is expecting twins, also asked his fans to make sustainable choices to create a better world for future generations. “Listen to your father [advise],” Ronaldo said to the audience twice, before telling a story about his oldest son.
“My son often asks me when I have my phone. I always tell him: ‘As long as it’s your time, you’ll have it’,”
He also has a piece of advice for parents — limit their children’s screen time. “We have to use technology, not get addicted to it. Kids should be given phones at certain times, not all the time.”
After the interactive session at Al Wasl Square, Ronaldo signed the number 7 jersey for a few lucky kids. GEMS International School student Layan Hamade is one of them. “I happened to be sitting in the front row. I couldn’t believe my ears when the organizer told me that I was one of the lucky ones who got a T-shirt on stage,” Layan said.
“Now, all my friends and classmates will be jealous of me.”
Photo by M. Sajjad
A fan from Oman said it was a dream come true for him. “I follow Ronaldo on every platform. Don’t miss any news from him. When I learned he was here, I didn’t want to go to Dubai anymore.”
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Another fan from Kerala, India, Ravi was in Dubai earlier and was scheduled to return home on January 27. But when he heard Ronaldo would visit Expo 2020, he rescheduled his flight.
“I put off tickets to see my favorite star,” he said.
“The people who are in Al Wasl Square today are the luckiest.”
One of the most heartwarming moments of the day was when Ronaldo stepped off the podium to take a photo with a man in a wheelchair, and the crowd boiled.
ayaz@khaleejtimes.com
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