Cristiano Ronaldo is among the most accomplished athletes on the planet but he has also overcome massive hurdles, trials and tribulations to get to where he is today. We take a look at the challenges that have moulded the Manchester United and Portugal star into being one of the most successful and lauded sporting icons worldwide.
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) April 18, 2022
Following Ronaldo’s announcement Monday that he and partner Georgina Rodriguez had lost their newborn son, we delve into past hardships faced by the Portuguese footballer.
In his youth Ronaldo started playing football at local club Andorinha where his father, José Dinis Aveiro, worked as a kitman. Also a conscript soldier and a municipal gardener, Dinis turned to alcoholism which ultimately culminated in his demise. In 2005, Dinis succumbed to liver failure at the age of 51, with Ronaldo aged just 20.
His father’s death convinced Ronaldo that he would not go down the same path, and he pledged he would no longer drink. Unfortunately his older brother, Hugo Aveiro, was haunted by the same demons which had corrupted their late father. Hugo has a troubled past with both drugs and alcohol however Ronaldo has supported his brother throughout his battles against substance abuse, with the footballer known to have covered the financial costs of his older brother’s rehabilitation. Ten years Ronaldo’s senior, Hugo is now a manager and director of his brother’s CR7 museum in Madeira and he has been publicly spotted with Ronaldo at football matches, award ceremonies and on holidays.
On top of persistent alcohol problems in the family, Ronaldo’s mother Dolores Aveiro was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 – two years after his father passed away – and has twice battled the disease. In March 2020 Dolores was admitted to hospital in Madeira after she suffered an ischemic stroke.
Amid recurring health problems in his immediate family, Ronaldo strives to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The football star does not drink and does not have tattoos so that he is able to donate blood regularly.
The 37-year-old now has five kids including two daughters with current partner Georgina Rodriguez. The couple announced in October they were expecting twins but sadly their newborn son passed away at birth. Ronaldo is also father to three older children, Cristiano Jr born in 2010, and twins Eva and Mateo who were born to an undisclosed surrogate mother in 2017. Georgina gave birth to the couple’s first daughter, Alana, in 2017.
Ronaldo is a five-time UEFA Champions League winner, five-time recipient of the Ballon d’Or award, and has won a combined seven league titles during spells with Man United, Real Madrid and Juventus. He has ten domestic cups to his name and was named The Best FIFA Men’s Player on two occasions.
United have confirmed Ronaldo will not be part of the traveling squad as they take on Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday. Official club sources said in a statement: “Family is more important than everything and Ronaldo is supporting his loved ones at this immensely difficult time”.
