Cristiano Ronaldo story is one of rising against insurmountable odds. While the world marvels at his incredible prowess on the field, not many know that life was not always rosy for this football legend.
Continue reading to find out about this wonderful story that should inspire many to dream without looking at their backgrounds.
Charles Swindoll, who famously said that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Cristiano Ronaldo’s life embodies this saying as someone who never allowed early challenges in life to distract him from his goal.
Here’s what the star’s childhood story looks like:
Cristiano Ronaldo profile summary
Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Nicknames: Ronnie, CR7, Rocket Ronaldo
Date of birth: February 5, 1985
Horoscope: Aquarius
Place of birth: Sao Pedro, Funchal, Cape Verde
Nationality: Portuguese
Religion: Roman Catholic
Mother: Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro
Father: Jose Dinis Aveiro
Siblings: Hugo, Elma, and Katia dos Satos Aveiro
Partner: Georgina Rodriguez
Children: 6
Ronnie is one of the greatest footballers ever. Photo/Instagram
Profession: professional footballer; model
Jersey number: 7
Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth: $500 million.
Height: 6 feet, 1 inch
Weight: 84kgs
Hair: Dark brown
Eyes: Hazel
How was Cristiano Ronaldo’s childhood?
Cristiano, also referred to as CR7, was born in Madeira, Portugal, in February 1985. He is the fourth-born child and the last born. His other siblings were Hugo, Elma, and Katia. Growing up, Ronaldo enjoyed a close relationship with his siblings, which enabled him to fully focus on his football passion.
It is said Ronaldo’s father named him after the 40th US president, Ronald Reagan, who was in power between 1981-1989.
Did Ronaldo grow up poor? Yes, the footballer recalls painful experiences of being unable to make ends meet while growing up.
He particularly recalls him and his teammates begging for burgers outside McDonald’s because they had trouble making ends meet. He was 12 years old at the time.
CR7 and his girlfriend Georgina. Photo/Instagram.
Cristiano Ronaldo parents
Jose Dinis Aveiro, Ronaldo’s father, served his country as a soldier and deployed in the wars against Mozambique and Angola.
He was broken and jobless when he returned home, which made him more prone to mental health issues. Unfortunately, he turned to alcohol to cope with the chaos, which negatively impacted his connection with his family.
However, he started working as a municipal gardener and a part-time kitman for a local football club; this became CR7’s stepping stone into the football world.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s relationship with his dad was rather shaky because of the latter’s alcoholism.
Sadly, Jose Dinis passed away in 2005 after suffering liver failure. At the time, his 20-year-old last-born son’s rising career was just starting to thrive. The Portuguese athlete resolved to abstain from alcohol and become a good father.
Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, Ronaldo’s mother, worked as a cook and a cleaner. Unfortunately, because of her husband’s alcholism, she had trouble providing for her family. Her kids often joined her in the cleaning jobs to make an extra coin.
Maria describes in her book Mother Courage how she had intended to abort Ronaldo, the family’s last child, because of financial difficulties. The doctors refused her request once she made it known to them. She even drank warm beer and ran frantically to terminate the pregnancy, but she was unsuccessful.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s childhood home
Cristiano Ronaldo grew up on the island of Madeira with his parents and siblings. The siblings shared a room while they were growing up, and some of Cristiano Ronaldo’s childhood pictures paint a portrait of a close-knit family.
School life
Ronaldo earned the moniker “Cry Baby” in school because he constantly cried when things did not go his way. When he first entered school, he showed little interest in academics and hardly ever completed his assignments.
Ronnie was reportedly expelled from school after throwing a chair at his teacher and complaining that he had treated him disrespectfully. Some accounts say he fell out with the teacher after he mocked his Mandeira accent.
He eventually dropped out of school at the age of 14 to focus on his passion for football. Fortunately, his family supported him and saw him excel in his career.
Early career
The football hero enrolled in the Andorinha football academy when he was eight years old, where his father worked as a kit man.
He was there for two years before proceeding to Clube Desportivo Nacional, another football academy in Madeira. Ronnie’s talent was evident, as he won several awards and trophies.
CR7 left his parents’ home at 12 to join the Sporting Lisbon Youth Academy. The academy visited his local club and declared that the player who scored the most goals would get a place at the institution.
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s heart surgery
At 15 years of age, Ronnie was diagnosed with tachycardia, a disorder in which the heart rate is higher than usual. He fully recovered after undergoing laser surgery to treat the condition.
He returned to the pitch within a few days, running at high speeds, which is his signature style to date.
Ronaldo joins Manchester United
At the age of 18, Cristiano joined Manchester United Football Club in 2003. The signing, worth a whopping £12.24 million, made him the most expensive teenager in English football history. He quickly rose to fame, taking home the FA Cup in his debut season.
Beginning a career at Old Trafford was the first step towards success. Ronaldo transferred to Real Madrid in a $107 million deal shortly after winning his first Ballon d’Or at the age of 23. Later, he returned to Manchester United before relocating to Juventus. He currently serves as a forward for his country’s national team.
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Quick facts about Cristiano Ronaldo
1. The football star was born on the Portuguese island of Madeira on February 5, 1985, in Cape Verde.
2. Jose Dinis Aveiro and Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro are CR7’s parents. Sadly, Jose, his father, passed away in 2005 and did not see his son grow up to be the famous person he is today.
3. Ronaldo’s father was a soldier and served his nation in the war with Mozambique and Angola.
4. He is the last born among four siblings: Hugo, Katia, and Elma. Despite the difficulties they faced growing up, it appears from Cristiano Ronaldo’s childhood photographs that they had a close bond.
5. The Portuguese athlete has six children and is currently dating Georgina Rodriguez.
6. Cristiano has several nicknames, including CR7, Ron, Ronnie, and Rocket Ronaldo. He earned the nicknames “Cry Baby” and “Little Bee” as a young child for his agility on the pitch.
READ ALSO: 6 Greatest Football Players Of All Time
7. Ronaldo had laser heart surgery at the age of 15 after being diagnosed with tachycardia, a disease in which the heart rate is elevated.
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