Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo - The Portuguese soccer world conqueror
World footballer, record goalscorer, European champion and much more. The Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (39) - also known as CR7 - is not only famous for his extraordinary skills on the field, but also for his incredible discipline and work ethic. His development from a talented young boy from the Atlantic island of Madeira to a global superstar was also marked by tough decisions and personal dramas. Tonight, Ronaldo will join the Portuguese football national team in the European Championship action. The game against the Czech Republic starts at 9 pm in Leipzig.
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro - his Madeiran family background
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, full name, was born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal, the capital city of the Portuguese island of Madeira. As the youngest of four children, he grew up in modest circumstances. His father, José Dinis Aveiro, worked as a gardener, and his mother, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, as a cook.
His father passed away in 2005 at the age of 52 due to alcohol-related issues, when Cristiano was already making a name for himself at Manchester United. The death of his father deeply affected him, as he mentioned in interviews. Later, his mother also faced health issues. "My mother is the pillar of our family, and I am who I am today because she has always supported me," Ronaldo said in an interview with Piers Morgan for "Mail Online" about his beloved family member.
Ronaldos mother is now a heavyweight on Instagram. She shares glimpses of her life and that of her famous extended family to her 4.1 million followers and followers. Recently, there was a birthday post for her "beloved" teenage grandson Cristiano Ronaldo Jr.
From Madeira to Riyadh - Cristiano Ronaldo's remarkable career
Back to the young footballer Cristiano Ronaldo on Madeira's streets. Even as a small child, he showed an extraordinary passion for football. At the age of 12, he left Madeira and went to the youth academy of Sporting Lisbon. This step meant not only separation from his family but also the need to assert himself in a new environment.
The next significant milestone in Ronaldo's career came in 2003 when he was 18 and joined Manchester United. Here, he met Sir Alex Ferguson (82), who became one of the most influential figures in his life. "Sir Alex was like a father to me. He not only taught me football but also discipline and respect," he later explained in an interview.
The move to Real Madrid in 2009 marked the next peak in Ronaldo's career. He was under contract there until 2018. From 2018 to 2021, he played for the top club Juventus Turin. Since 2023, Ronaldo has been playing for al-Nassr-FC, the Saudi Arabian football club of the capital Riyadh.
Over time, the sports professional developed strict routines to keep his body in top shape. His diet, sleep, and training plan were meticulously planned. "I have learned that small details make a difference. Discipline means making the right decisions every day," he said in 2018 in a conversation with "Men's Health".
Happy with his large patchwork family
Despite his disciplined and structured professional path to the pinnacle of the sport, the unusual origin story of the family he founded is as curious and chaotic as ever. Cristiano Ronaldo is now the father of five children.
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., born on June 17, 2010, is Ronaldo's first son. The identity of his mother is still a secret. Ronaldo has sole custody of him and in various interviews explained that he would not reveal the mother's identity to protect his privacy. On the occasion of his eldest son's birthday a few days ago, Ronaldo posted a photo of the two of them from an event on Instagram and wrote: "I can't believe you're already 14, time flies. All the best on your birthday, my little partner! Dad loves you a lot."
The twins Eva and Mateo were born on June 8, 2017, in the USA through a surrogate mother. The identity of the mother is still unknown, which caused many speculations and discussions in the media.
Georgina Rodriguez (30), an Argentine-Spanish model, was already known to him. She is the only publicly known partner of Ronaldo with whom he has children. They met in late 2016 at a luxury brand store in Madrid where she worked as a sales assistant. Already on November 12, 2017, their common daughter Alana Martina was born. Georgina has taken on the role of mother for all the children for a long time.
In the spring of 2022, the second common child of the couple, a daughter named Bella Esmeralda, was born. At the same time, they had to endure a heavy blow of fate: The twin brother Angel did not survive the birth. "This was the hardest year of my life. The happiest moment became at the same time the saddest and will accompany us for the rest of our lives," the model said in the Spanish edition of "Elle" magazine.
The fact that the seven-member family comes first for the football world star was confirmed by Ronaldo only recently in an Instagram photo on the occasion of the seventh birthday of the twins Eva and Mateo. "Family first," he let his 632 million followers know.
- Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., the eldest son of Cristiano Ronaldo, was born on June 17, 2010, and he shares an intimate bond with his father, as evidenced by a recent Instagram post on his 14th birthday.
- The twins, Eva and Mateo, were born to Cristiano Ronaldo via a surrogate mother on June 8, 2017, making them a part of Ronaldo's growing family.
- Georgina Rodríguez, an Argentine-Spanish model, is the publicly known partner of Cristiano Ronaldo, and the couple is parents to their daughter, Alana Martina, born on November 12, 2017.
- In addition to Alana, Georgina has taken on the role of mother to Cristiano's other children as well.
- The couple also welcomed their second child together, a daughter named Bella Esmeralda, in the spring of 2022. However, they faced a distressing loss as their twin son, Angel, did not survive the birth.
- Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, the mother of Cristiano Ronaldo, is a significant figure in his life, having supported him throughout his journey.
- Despite the shifting landscape of his career, with stints at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus Turin, and now al-Nassr-FC, Cristiano Ronaldo has remained family-oriented, as evident in his Instagram posts and statements.
- In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo mentioned that his mother is the pillar of their family and that he is who he is today because of her constant support.
- His mother, Maria, is increasingly active on Instagram, often sharing glimpses of their family life with her followers.
- Cristiano Ronaldo's father, José Dinis Aveiro, worked as a gardener and passed away in 2005, deeply impacting his son.
- Born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal, the capital city of the Portuguese island of Madeira, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro comes from a humble background, his mother being a cook and his father a gardener.
