Cristiano Ronaldo Jr: The son of CR7 and a budding football superstar

Cameron Smith

• 7 Feb 2023 10:10 GMT
• 6 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most recognisable athletes in the world, and as a result his eldest son is already a well-known celebrity.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward is now a father of five and his teenage son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, is an up-and-coming young footballer who has already made strides in the game.

Ronaldo Jr was born in San Diego, California in the United States of America on June 17, 2010. He is 12 years old. In the family, Ronaldo Jr is nicknamed 'Cristianinho', which means 'Little Cristiano'.

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo - goals, assists and stats in 2022-23

Due to the fame his father has, Ronaldo Jr is one of the most recognisable 12-year-old’s in the world and is the most famous footballer at his age. Having played for some of the best academies in Europe, Ronaldo Jr is expected to have a successful career in football.

Ronaldo himself has even admitted that his son has previously asked him to prolong his career in order for the two to play professionally together.

Which clubs has Cristiano Ronaldo Jr played for?

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr has a very impressive CV of former clubs despite his extremely young age. Due to his father moving clubs several times during his life, the 12-year-old has followed his footsteps to each new team.

As a result, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr has played for: Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United and now Al-Nassr.

Before he joined Al-Nassr in his most recent career move, Ronaldo Jr was linked with a return to Real Madrid and was reportedly training at the club following the termination of his father’s contract at Manchester United. However, he ended up leaving Spain to move to Saudi Arabia with his father and is now playing for Al-Nassr’s youth team.

What position does Cristiano Ronaldo Jr play?

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr plays as a forward, just like his father. He has also taken after his dad in regards to his ability to find goal-scoring positions on a regular basis.

It’s understood he played alongside Wayne Rooney’s son, Kai, during his time in the Man Utd academy, with the two linking up in the forward line.

How good is Cristiano Ronaldo Jr?

During his spell at Los Blancos, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr scored over 50 goals in just 20 games - a scoring record to rival his record-breaking father’s. Back in 2019, while he was playing for Juventus, Ronaldo Jr scored 25 goals in just eight games at the Torneo Internacional de Marítimo as he helped the Old Lady win the tournament. He scored 58 goals and assisted 17 in total during 23 games for Juve.

Ronaldo himself has spoken about his son previously, saying in 2016: “I want my son to be a player. I am a footballer and I want him to be one too. I think he has something of an athlete about him, he has athletic characteristics. I have 30 balls at home, he is always with the ball and he loves it. But I will not force him to be a player because it comes naturally, it has to be his choice.”

While playing in Turin, Ronaldo said: "I hope that Cris, my son, can be like his dad. He says he is going to be better [than me], but I think it's difficult. He is playing for Juventus and adapting really well, it has been easier for him than for me."

Furthermore, in 2020, Ronaldo admitted: "We'll see if my son will become a great footballer. He has potential. He is fast and dribbles well, but that is not enough. I always tell him that it takes work and dedication to have success. I won't pressure him to become a footballer, but if you ask me if I want him to, yes I would like it. The most important thing is to become the best at whatever he does, whether it is as a footballer or a doctor."

Football royalty: Cristiano Ronaldo Jr and family

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best football players in history and has won five Ballon d’Or’s during his career. He is arguably the biggest name in the sport and is one of the most recognisable celebrities in the world. His family is one of the most well-known on the planet, as a result.

His current girlfriend is Georgina Rodriguez, who is a Spanish model. She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in January 1994. She has been Ronaldo’s partner since 2016 after they met at a Gucci store in Madrid. Rodriguez has three biological children with Ronaldo. However, she is not the biological mother of Cristiano Ronaldo Jr and is instead his step-mother.

Ronaldo Jr has been raised by Ronaldo and his grandmother, Dolores, throughout his childhood, with Dolores bearing much of the responsibility. It’s understood that Ronaldo has full custody of the boy, with Ronaldo Jr's birth mother not publicly known. There have been many rumours as to who she is, but her identity has not been revealed and it’s believed that she doesn’t have a relationship with her son.

Ronaldo Jr was an only child for seven years before it was revealed that Ronaldo had fathered twins, named Eva and Mateo, with a surrogate mother in June 2017. Ronaldo had another child in November 2017 - Alana Martina - before a boy and a girl were born in April 2022. Unfortunately, the boy sadly passed away during childbirth.

The family now live in Saudi Arabia following Ronaldo’s transfer to Al-Nassr.