Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Funchal is a small isle off the western coast. Ronaldo was the youngest of four children and was named after Ronald Reagan, his father’s favorite actor, and the former US President. He grew up in working-class surroundings, a small tin-roofed house.
His early life was formed by hardship. It was through his dad’s labor as a manager at a boy’s club that Ronaldo was initially introduced to the game of soccer. When he was 10 years old, he already started receiving recognition as a sensation—a child who slept, ate, and drank the game.
Who were Cristiano Ronaldo's parents?
Ronaldo was born to Maria Dolores dos Santos and José Dinis Aveiro. His father was a drunken gardener and hardly made any earnings. Usually, he used to drink a lot which eventually resulted in alcoholic liver disease and he died in 2005 when Ronaldo was just 20 years old. To maintain some financial stability, and help keep the children fed, his mother worked as a cleaning and cook person.
What happened to Cristiano Ronaldo's dad?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s biggest regret is his dad not being able to see his rise when he started shining at Manchester United. He did not have a great relationship with his father Jose Dinis Aveiro but appreciated him a lot.
In 2005, Ronaldo was just 20 years old when his father died because of kidney failure.
His father’s drinking problems started when Jose returned to Portugal from a war in Africa. He went to a bar every day and often forgot about Cristiano and his family.
What happened to Cristiano Ronaldo's mom?
Mom-of-four Dolores Aveiro beat breast cancer after being diagnosed with the disease in 2007. Dolores Aveiro admitted to new health problems. She told a Portuguese TV station in an interview: “I had another breast operation in Madrid, I’ve had radiotherapy and now I’m fighting for my life.”
Dolores Aveiro, the mother of Cristiano Ronaldo, has suffered a stroke recently. According to Portuguese press reports, she was admitted to Doctor Nelio Hospital in Mendonça de Funchal, Portugal, and underwent an urgent operation after falling ill.
Does Cristiano Ronaldo have siblings?
In total, Cristiano Ronaldo has three siblings - one brother called Hugo and his two sisters Elma and Katia. They are all older than him, meaning he is the baby of the family. Elma is the eldest of Ronaldo's siblings, having been born in 1973, followed by Hugo, who was born in 1975. Katia was born two years after Hugo in 1977.
There are eight years between Katia and Ronaldo, who was born in 1985. Ronaldo's family is tightly knit, having come through the difficulties of poverty while growing up together in Portugal. As well as supporting their business ventures, Ronaldo regularly celebrates milestones, events, and birthdays with his siblings, as well as his mother Maria Dolores.
