A Syrian barber has described an unexpected encounter with Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo. He said a mysterious booking for a haircut led to a memorable meeting in a hotel in Sweden, where the Portuguese national team was staying.
Rabie Al Hussein said he had no idea who his client was until he walked into the hotel room. In a TV interview, he said the encounter began when a man visited his barbershop, had coffee with him and said he might arrange a time to cut a football player’s hair.
Mysterious booking and security checks before the visit
Al Hussein said the man phoned him twice, around 2 and 8 p.m., and told him to bring his passport or identity card for security clearance. The identity of the player was kept under wraps.
He was told to arrive at the hotel at 9:15 p.m. Security guards escorted him to the second level, and he carried his equipment and identity documents with him.
Nothing had prepared him for what came next. “When the door opened, I saw Cristiano Ronaldo sitting there,” Al Hussein said, recalling that he was unable to respond and froze in shock.
Ronaldo’s friendly greeting and choice of fade
Ronaldo approached him, embraced him and shook his hand, noticing how nervous he was. According to Al Hussein, the player said, “Hello, my friend. How are you?” The barber said the friendly manner and humility quickly put him at ease.
Ronaldo initially asked for a high fade, but his Portuguese teammate Diogo Dalot advised a medium fade instead. Ronaldo agreed to it, the barber said.
Al Hussein also said Ronaldo smiled when he asked for a photo before the haircut began. “Not now, my friend. After the haircut. If you like the result, we’ll take a picture together,” he quoted Ronaldo as saying.
Remark about Syria and the barber’s account of payment
Ronaldo then asked the barber where he was from, a moment Al Hussein said he would never forget. When he replied that he was Syrian, the player responded, “Oh, Syria! Then I can trust you!” according to the barber.
Al Hussein said he was not paid and that nobody asked him what he wanted in return. He said it was a great honour for him, as he has been a fan of the player for many years, and that he did not believe the haircut had a price.
More than the surprise of meeting one of football’s best stars, Al Hussein said Ronaldo’s friendliness and humility stood out. He described the encounter as an amazing experience.
