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Ronaldo greets fans in Paisley ahead of Scotland match

SNS Cristiano Ronaldo can be seen through the lens of a phone signing items for fans at the St Mirren FC gates.SNS
Cristiano Ronaldo stopped to sign items for his young fans

Fans camped out for more than six hours to meet football legend Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Portugal's match with Scotland.

The two sides will meet for a Nations League showdown at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Tuesday night.

The Portugal squad arrived at St Mirren FC in Paisley late on Monday afternoon with plans to train at the football ground.

Hundreds of fans clung to the gates outside hoping to catch a glimpse of one of the biggest football stars in the world.

Blaine, 8, and Mikey, 10, had camped out by the away gate for six hours before the bus pulled up by the stadium.

They were among several avid young fans by the barrier clutching items for the all-time leading goalscorer in men's international football to sign.

Luckily, 39-year-old Ronaldo spotted the pair and signed their football and notebook.

Crowds holding phones up outside St Mirren FC with some children on the shoulders of parents
Blaine holds a notebook with Ronaldo's signature and Mikey holds a football signed by Ronaldo
Blaine and Mikey waited by the gate for hours to see the football legend

Their mum Jean, from Glasgow, said: "As soon as the boys saw him, they were up and shouting his name.

"We've been waiting out here for hours, so we were hoping he would come over."

As the Portugal squad got off the bus, the crowd surged forward with children screaming the player's name.

Ronaldo approached the gate and made his way along the crowd signing autographs.

"He looked taller in person," said Blaine. "I was very excited when I saw him.

"That's my first ever time getting someone's signature."

Zac wears a black Nike tracksuit and holds a signed boot and notebook outside of the St Mirren FC stadium
Zac was thrilled to get autographs from Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes

Mum Sammy came to see the team arrive after her son Zac had finished playing football.

"Ronaldo came out and he walked up and signed my boot and my legends book," said Zac.

"I was up on the gate and holding my hands out. I screamed his name and he looked over and came and signed my stuff.

"I was the second person to get a signature."

He said Ronaldo was quite "quiet" and it felt "really weird" to see him in person.

Zac also managed to get a signature from Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.

But despite the excitement, he said he would still be cheering Scotland on against Portugal on Tuesday evening.

Steve Clarke's side have lost all three of their Nations League outings so far, with their most recent defeat against Croatia at the weekend.

Andrew and Ciaron hold a red Ronaldo top in front of the away gate
Andrew and Ciaron could not believe the star was in their hometown

Sean, from Paisley, waited outside the building for four hours with his star struck sons.

He said Andrew and Ciaron, 10, were big football fans and even bigger Ronaldo fans.

The pair clung to the gate ahead of the grand arrival.

An hour before Ronaldo appeared, Sean told BBC Scotland News: "They're so excited to see him.

"We're going to stake it out to the very end, he's not getting away!"

children outside the gate of St Mirren FC with one child in a blue Ronaldo shirt sitting on someone's shoulders

After he went into the stadium, unlucky fans lingered outside with hopes of a second chance to glimpse the decorated player.

Ronaldo has scored a staggering 906 career goals and hopes to continue his quest for 1,000.

The veteran striker scored his 133rd Portugal goal against Poland on Saturday, where his side won 3-1.

Head coach Roberto Martinez told journalists at St Mirren FC that the football icon would not start the match on Tuesday, but he would "certainly be involved as he showed in the last game".

Scotland lost 2-1 in Portugal last month in the reverse meeting.

But hopes are still high for a Scotland win - despite the warm welcome from locals.