That being said, when he signed his new deal in 2016, Ronaldo said that ideally he wanted to sign another contract when his current one expires that would keep him playing until he’s 41, and he wanted to stay with Real Madrid for the rest of his career.
Plans change.
He is more dedicated to his family than any critic can say.
Ronaldo is the youngest of four, born Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro in the city of Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira to José Dinis Aveiro, a municipality gardener, and the equipment manager of the local team CF Andorinha. Maria Dolores dos Santos AveiroHe was a chef. When he was little, he used to kick a soccer ball in the street. At his father’s suggestion, he joined his first youth club when he had seven years old.
In a 2017 essay for The Players’ Tribune, Ronaldo remembered his father, who died in 2005 at the age of 52, always attending his games alone because his mother and sisters had no interest in football. They finally showed up one day.
He recalled that “life was hard back then in Madeira.” My brother or one of my cousins passed on the boots to me. When you are a child, money is not important to you. You care about a certain feeling. It was strong that day. It felt safe and secure. Portuguese: menino querido da família.“