Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in Tokyo with Real Madrid teammates ahead of being announced Ballon d’Or winner
CRISTIANO RONALDO has been greeted by huge crowds of adoring Japanese fans in Tokyo ahead of Real Madrid's World Club Cup campaign.
A leaked edition of France Football magazine has revealed that Ronaldo will be announced Ballon d'Or winner today, and the locals were desperate to get a glimpse of 2016's best player.
In what must have been a humbling experience for the Portugal captain and his teammates, young fans in Tokyo turned up at 5am local time just to see the Galacticos.
But not everyone at Haneda International Airport was there for Ronaldo.
Replica shirts with the names of players like Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Marcelo were held up just as proudly as those with the talismanic striker's name on the back.
Despite the 14-hour flight, boss Zinedine Zidane cracked the whip and had his team back in training later in the day.
Real Madrid's stars were allowed a few hours sleep before taking to the field to prepare for their World Club Cup campaign.
While the rest of the squad covered up in temperatures of five degrees, Ronaldo once again showed nothing fazes him.
The man who became European champion for club and country this year wore the shortest pair of shorts he could find during the evening training session.
Real Madrid will look to extend a club record 35-game unbeaten run when they take on Mexico's Club America in the World Club Cup semi-final on Thursday.
There were moments on Saturday when it looked like Los Blancos would have to settle for equalling the record set in the 1988/89 season, but once again they were bailed out by their captain.
Sergio Ramos scored an 89th minute equaliser against Barcelona at the Nou Camp in last week's El Clasico, and on Saturday he repeated the feat, heading home a winner against Deportivo, who had led 2-1 through two goals from Stoke City loanee Joselu.
Related Stories
If Real Madrid beat America, they will face either Japanese champions Kashima Antlers or Colombian side Atletico Nacional in Sunday's final.
A match against the Colombians would be an emotional occasion as Atletico Nacional were the side set to face Chapecoense in the Copa Sudamericana final.
The Copa Libertadores winners from Medellin gave up the chance to become the first ever team to clinch the South American double when they donated the Copa Sudamericana trophy to the fallen Brazilian side.
71 passengers and most of the Chapecoense team lost their lives when their flight to Medellin crashed 30 miles short of the airport.
Meanwhile in Europe's top club competition, Real Madrid have avoided a Champions League last 16 tie against the likes of Arsenal and Juventus, but face a tough trip to Napoli.