BIRTHDAY boy Cristiano Ronaldo is 35 today, and as fans look back at his career they will admire the glory, as well as his rich wealth.
Alongside his £500,000-a-week wages at Juventus, the forward, who wants to play till he’s 40, has rich contracts with Nike, Armani, KFC, Herbalife, as well as his own range of CR7 clothes, shoes and underwear.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s richest athlete – and he is also one of the most generousCredit: AFP or licensors
And his years of success at Real Madrid and now at Juventus have made the Portuguese one of the most divisive athletes in the world.
Adored by his fans for his ridiculous skill and achievement, Ronaldo also has an army of critics who hate his petulant behaviour and obsession with appearance and brand.
But while many deride Ronaldo for his antics on the pitch, few know of his charity work off of it.
Here are 18 reasons why Ronaldo has one of the biggest hearts in all of sports.
1) HIS EUROPEAN GOLDEN BOOT
In 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded the European Golden Boot after scoring 40 goals under Jose Mourinho, although Los Blancos could only finish second in La Liga and crashed out at the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Rather than keep the award in his already packed trophy room – Ronaldo opted to sell it for charity.
The boot went for auction and raised a stunning £1.2million.
The funds went towards building a number of schools in war-torn Gaza.
Cristiano Ronaldo sold his European Golden Boot at a charity auction – raising £1.2million to build schools in GazaCredit: EPA
2) THE BALLON D’OR
Ronaldo repeated the trick of selling off one of his trophies in 2017, this time his 2013 Ballon d’Or trophy at a charity auction in London.
The gala dinner, to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation – which grants wishes to children with life-threatening and terminally-ill children – was a roaring success.
Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or made a massive £530,000 for the organisation too.
The Real Madrid star also sold off his 2013 Ballon d’Or in October, raising another £530,000 for the Make-A-Wish FoundationCredit: EPA
3) AN AMBASSADOR
Ronaldo continues to use his global platform as a force for good.
He is an ambassador for three major charities, Save the Children, Unicef and World Vision, and has spoken up for countless more.
At his 2014 Ballon d’Or speech, Ronaldo made a point of mentioning a group of children he had met with leukemia.
He has continued to speak out in those roles.
The Portuguese is a vocal ambassador for a number of different charities, including Save the Children and UnicefCredit: Wenn
In 2016, he recorded a message to the children affected by the Syrian conflict, calling them “true heroes” and stating “I am with you”.
He also made a secret donation which he asked Save the Children not to reveal.
Ronaldo’s Ice Bucket Challenge video – the viral sensation that raised hundreds of millions of pounds in 2014 – was seen by more than a hundred million people across his social media platforms.
4) WIN BONUSES
Ronaldo has also been very generous with giving up money earned from his exceptional performances on the pitch.
In 2013 he was named in the Uefa Team of the Year – earning a €100,000 (£89,000) bonus from the European governing body.
But rather than cash the cheque, he donated it to the Red Cross.
A year later the Portuguese star led Real Madrid to La Decima, their tenth Champions League victory, and picked up a £450,000 bonus from Los Blancos.
But Ronaldo again decided against cashing the money, instead sharing it among the three charities he is an ambassador for, Unicef, World Vision and Save the Children.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most generous people ever
Ronaldo has donated a number of individual bonuses to charity – including this €100,000 cheque to the Red CrossCredit: UEFA
5) GIVES BLOOD
The 32-year-old, compared to a growing number of his peers, is remarkably tattoo-free.
It’s all for a reason – Ronaldo regularly donates blood and has been involved in numerous campaigns to encourage others to do the same.
People with tattoos can donate blood, but are not able to do so immediately after getting new ink to reduce the risk of infection.
Ronaldo is a frequent giver of blood and has advocated for others to do the same
The Portuguese does not have any tattoos so he can donate blood more frequently
He said in 2015: “We can all make a difference by donating blood.
“Each donation can benefit up to three people in emergency situations and for long-term medical treatments… That’s why I am enthusiastic… to the importance of blood donation and to encourage people around the world to become lifelong blood donors and help save lives.”
Ronaldo also donates bone marrow after a former team-mate revealed his struggles.
Carlos Martins had a son who needed bone marrow and Ronaldo has been a donor since.
He said donating bone marrow is “something a lot of people think is a difficult thing to do but it’s nothing more than drawing blood and doesn’t hurt.”
6) MULTI-MILLION POUND RELIEF
Ronaldo again donated a huge amount of money in 2015, to the relief efforts for the Nepalese earthquake in April 2015.
The deadly natural disaster killed 9,000 people, injured 22,000 more and caused untold amounts of damage to the country.
Ronaldo is reported to have given £5MILLION to Save the Children’s disaster relief fund – although those reports have remained unverified and were denied by the charity.
He likely did make a donation, although the amount remains a mystery.
Ronaldo is reported to have donated £5MILLION to the Nepal Earthquake relief fund after 9,000 people were killed in April 2015Credit: EPA
7) HELPING A CANCER CENTRE
Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores Aveiro, survived breast cancer in 2007.
The former Manchester United man decided to thank the care centre in Portugal that treated his mum – adding £120,000 to their coffers.
Ronaldo’s mother Dolores beat breast cancer in 2007, with the forward giving £120,000 to the Portuguese care centre that treated herCredit: EPA
8) INVITATION TO AN ORPHAN
In Lebanese capital Beirut, Real Madrid fan Haidar was orphaned when both of his parents were killed by a suicide bomber.
A local reporter got in touch with the Spanish giants and eventually the boy was invited to the club.
It lead to a heart-rending video of Ronaldo cuddling the youngster as he burst into tears of sheer delight to meet his hero.
9) HELPING A YOUNG FAN
Ronaldo was alerted to the story of Nuhuzet Guillen, a nine-year-old with terminal cancer in 2009.
After hearing about the fan, Ronaldo decided to send a driver to bring the family to the hotel where the Real Madrid team were staying.
After emerging from the lift, he is reported to have joked to the youngster: “Don’t you want to say anything?”
He dedicated a goal to Nuhuzet, inviting him to watch the match in his private box at the Bernabeu, and after the match gave him his match shirt.
Ronaldo paid the medical bill at an expensive private medical centre for terminally ill Nuhuzet GuillenCredit: Twitter @Ronaldo
After speaking with his father, Ronaldo learned there was not much that could be done, although there was experimental treatment available in the US, which the star paid for.
When Nuhuzet’s condition worsened, Ronaldo offered to pay for all of his medication, costing hundreds of thousands, and treatment at a private medical centre.
Ronaldo paid that for more than a year, until the boy sadly passed away in March 2013.
10) GENEROUS WITH HIS TIME
Ronaldo is often targeted by pitch invaders for selfies and pictures.
But rather than avoid the fans, CR7 knows he is an icon to these people and instead often stops for pictures.
On numerous occasions he has stopped fans from being dealt with by heavy-handed security.
Ronaldo also loves to interact with supporters inside stadiums, often staying to throw his shirt into the crowd, sign autographs and take pictures.
Ronaldo is often seen taking time to speak and chat with fans and also protect pitch invaders from heavy-handed stewardsCredit: Getty – Contributor
11) HELPING ANOTHER YOUNG FAN
In 2014, the mother of another young fan, ten-month-old Erik Ortiz Cruz, asked Ronaldo to donate a shirt to the boy, who has cortical dysplasia.
The brain abnormality causes up to 30 seizures a day.
After hearing the full story Ronaldo paid £55,000 for initial brain surgery and pledged to cover the cost of any follow-up treatment – although none has so far been needed.
He also helped raise extra money for Erik by donating a signed kit to sell at auction.
Ronaldo paid £55,000 for surgery to help ten-month old Erik Ortiz Cruz beat a brain condition
12) BROKEN ARM
During a pre-season friendly at Bournemouth, Ronaldo blasted one of his trademark free-kicks into the crowd at the Vitality Stadium.
Unfortunately for 11-year-old Charlie Silverwood, the shot broke the boy’s arm.
Club president Florentino Perez called Charlie, while Ronaldo gave him a signed Real Madrid shirt.
During a Champions League clash he also hit a shot into the crowd that made a young boy cry.
He leapt into the stand to give the youngster his training top.
Ronaldo appears in Save the Children video for World Refugee Day
13) BEST FRIEND EVER
Super-agent Jorge Mendes named Ronaldo as his best man when he married Sandra in 2015.
And Ronaldo decided to reward his Portuguese friend handsomely, buying him a whole Greek Island as a wedding present.
The island is said to have cost almost £40MILLION.
14) INVITATION FOR RICKSEN
Rangers legend Fernando Ricksen was suddenly diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2013.
The former Netherlands international was wheelchair-bound and relied on his wife and carers to look after him until his death in September.
After his condition became well-known, Ronaldo contacted the Scottish title winner on social media to invite Ricksen and his family to a match at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo also presented a shirt to the former right-back after a Champions League win over Legia Warsaw in October 2016.
Ronaldo invited former Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen, who has motor neurone disease, and his family to a Real Madrid gameCredit: @RicksenVeronika
Cristiano Ronaldo meets Rangers hero Fernando Ricksen and gives him a shirt
Cristiano’s big donations
- Selling his 2011 European Golden boot – £1.2milion
- Selling his 2013 Ballon d’or – £530,000
- Donating to the Nepalese earthquake – £5million* (reported)
- Uefa Team of the Year bonus – £100,000
- Champions League 2014 win bonus – £450,000
- Portugese cancer centre – £120,000
- Helping Erik Oritz Cruz – £55,000
15) SUPER TEAM-MATE
After La Decima, Real Madrid’s players not only got that win bonus from the club, but also a special gift from Ronaldo.
The player of the tournament decided to reward his team-mates with personalised watches from luxury watch brand Bvlgari.
Each watch was personalised and said to have cost him £5,000 each.
After winning La Decima, Ronaldo presented all of his team-mates with a personalised Bvlgari watch, costing around £5,000 eachCredit: @aarbeloa17
16) BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING
Ronaldo’s father, Denis, was an alcoholic who battleds with his addiction for years before his death in 2005.
Older brother Hugo Aveiro was heading down that same path, addicted to alcohol and drugs.
But as Ronaldo’s fame grew he decided to intervene – promising to dedicate La Decima to his older brother if he kicked his destructive habits.
He did and then came on to the pitch to share an emotional embrace with Ronaldo after full-time.
Hugo, who is ten years older than Cristiano, has since been pictured alongside Ronaldo at numerous events, including the 2016 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Ronaldo is also godfather to Hugo’s son, while the Juventus and Portugal star decided to put his older brother in charge of the Ronaldo Museum in Madeira.
So next time someone mentions how much they hate Ronaldo’s preening on the field, just remember how much he helps out off it.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s older brother Hugo (right) battled alcohol and drug addiction but now runs the CR7 Museum in MadeiraCredit: Getty Images
17) A GREAT TIPPER
Ronaldo is a massive fan of the luxury Costa Navarino resort in southern Greece and has stayed there multiple times.
The area comprises several sites, with two five-star hotels, as well as luxury private residences, conference facilities, spas and golf courses.
It is not clear exactly where Ronaldo was staying – the owners enforced a media blackout to allow Ronaldo and his family some privacy – but he clearly loved it.
After week long stays in 2018 and 2019, Ronaldo left a massive tip for the staff who had looked after him, paying £20,000 on top of his bill to be shared among ten staff on both occasions.
18) NEVER FORGETS A KIND GESTURE
Ronaldo recently revealed he was given free burgers by three women when he used to beg for food as a child.
After a massive appeal, one of the women has been found – after Ron claimed he would knock on the door of a McDonald’s next to Sporting Lisbon’s stadium.
After days of searching, Paula Leca came forward to say she was one of the three women – calling Ronaldo “timid”.
And Ronaldo has offered to take generous Paula out for dinner either in Turin or Lisbon as a token of his gratitude.
Cristiano Ronaldo is hoping to track down a lady called Edna who used to give him free burgers as a kid when he had no money and was impoverished
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
