Fascinating Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo

Nicknamed ‘little bee’ as a kid, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born in 1985, in Portugal. Often referred to as Cristiano Ronaldo, he is one of the greatest football players of this generation. Learning that his nickname was ‘little bee’, one could easily associate it with his speed and skill in football. Here are some more fascinating personal facts about Cristiano Ronaldo.

Known for his lightning striking skills and years of youth football club experiences, Ronaldo easily moved up the football league’s hierarchy. His first big signing was with the English powerhouse, Manchester United.

Born in a family of four, the eldest, Ronaldo had a hard childhood growing up in Portugal. His father was an alcoholic local footballer and gardener, while his mother worked as a cook and cleaner trying to make ends meet. Ronaldo’s story is a true rag to riches one.

He is currently with Spanish model Georgina Rodiguez and has five children. It was announced on April 18th that the couple had twins—a girl and a boy. Sadly the newborn boy didn’t survive.\

4 Famous Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo

Heart Condition

At the age of 15, Ronaldo had a condition called ‘racing heart’ which needed surgery. The operation was laser-based and successful. This may be one of the reasons Ronaldo is an ardent supporter of medical charities.

Medical Charities

Christiano Ronaldo has been a long-time supporter of  FIFA’s 11 for Health program to raise awareness amongst kids about how to steer clear of drug addiction, HIV, malaria, and obesity. He is also against fizzy beverages and almost always replaces such drinks from his podium with water.

No tattoo policy

Often standing shirtless during victories, one cannot help but notice that Ronaldo does not have any tattoos. In an early interview with the Italian news website Diretta, Ronaldo said: “I don’t have tattoos so that I can donate blood more often.” While tattooed people can still donate blood, Ronaldo referred to the time period it requires. Typically, after new ink, at least four months of healing is required before donating blood, according to the Red Cross.

Silent donor

Ronaldo is a frequent blood donor and has donated bone marrow in the past. He decided to first donate blood when the son of his Portuguese teammate, Carlos Martins, fell ill with leukemia in 2011. When asked about why he donates bone marrow, Ronaldo said, “I did it many years ago and if I had to do it again, I would, because this is a very serious disease for many children and we need to help them…It’s a simple process and then you feel happy because you know you are helping another person.”