Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and is also the captain of the Portugal national team. He has won five Ballon d’Or awards, three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Awards, and four European Golden Shoes and has been named FIFA’s best player five times.
Ronaldo has claimed 34 major trophies, including five UEFA Champions League titles and the UEFA European Championship. He also holds several all-time records, including the most goals (140) and assists (42) in the UEFA Champions League and the most goals (14) and assists (8) in the UEFA European Championship. He is the only player to have scored 100 or more goals for four different clubs.
Who are Cristiano Ronaldo Parents?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s parents are Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Dinis Aveiro. They had four children: Hugo, Elma, Liliana Cátia (Katia), and Cristiano Ronaldo, their youngest. The family lived modestly in Santo António, Funchal. Ronaldo’s first name was chosen by his mother, while José picked “Ronaldo” after his favorite actor and U.S. president, Ronald Reagan.
Ronaldo often credits his parents for his drive and discipline. Speaking about his mother, he once wrote, “My mother is, without any doubt, courageous. I feel very thankful and proud to be her son and to have her in my life.”
José, who passed away in 2005, also recognized Maria’s dedication. In a video later shown to Ronaldo, José said of his wife, “[Maria] is indispensable. She gives him care. She is his bodyguard; he gets five-star attention.”
Cristiano Ronaldo Father – José Dinis Aveiro
Cristiano Ronaldo’s father was José Dinis Aveiro. He was born and raised in Madeira, Portugal. He worked as a gardener and a part-time kit man for the local soccer club CF Andorinha, where Ronaldo first developed his passion for football. According to The New York Times, when Ronaldo was 12 years old, José was the equipment manager for Andorinha’s senior team.
Before this, José had served in the Angolan War of Independence during the 1970s. When he returned to Portugal, he began taking on odd jobs to provide for his family.
Ronaldo has often said that his father was one of his biggest supporters. In an interview with Piers Morgan in 2019, he shared, “He treated me unbelievably. I was like the diamond of the family, and he knew that I would be a football player.” José would often take young Cristiano to his part-time job at Andorinha, encouraging his growing love for the sport.
However, Ronaldo also spoke about the emotional distance between them due to his father’s struggle with alcoholism. “I really didn’t know my father 100 percent,” Ronaldo said. “I never spoke with him, like a normal conversation. It was hard.”
José died in September 2005 from alcohol-related liver failure at the age of 52. At that time, Ronaldo was just 20 years old and playing for Manchester United.
In the same interview, Ronaldo became emotional after seeing a video of his father for the first time, in which José said proudly, “I’m proud to see my son in this situation. I could go to Lisbon to see the final, but my nerves are too much. It’s better to see the game on TV.”
Ronaldo later said, “It made me sad because to be No. 1, and he didn’t see anything — he didn’t see me receive awards, didn’t see what I became.”
Cristiano Ronaldo Mother – Maria Dolores
Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro. She was born and raised in Madeira, Portugal. Maria began her career as a cleaner and cook before later opening her own restaurant called Casa Aveiro in Brazil. She once shared, “Everything I did was for my children. I wanted them to have a better life.”
After José’s death, Maria Dolores found love again with Jose Andrade. The couple often shares pictures together online, and Andrade appears to have a good relationship with Ronaldo. When Ronaldo joined Juventus in 2018, Andrade posted a photo celebrating the news with Maria, captioned with pride and support.
Maria Dolores was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and fought it successfully. She had another cancer scare in 2019, and in 2020, she suffered a stroke. Ronaldo posted an update then, saying, “She is currently stable and recovering in hospital. Me and my family would like to thank the medical team looking after her.”
Does Cristiano Ronaldo have any siblings?
Cristiano Ronaldo has three older siblings: Elma Aveiro, Hugo Aveiro, and Liliana Cátia Aveiro (Katia). He is the youngest in the family.
Elma Aveiro is the eldest, and she was born in 1973. She describes herself as an “enterprising woman” and manages family business ventures, including the CR7 Museum and the Pestana CR7 Hotel in Madeira. Elma Aveiro is vocal on social media, often defending Ronaldo publicly. In 2020, after Juventus defeated Barcelona, she shared an image of Lionel Messi bowing to Ronaldo, captioning it, “My king. The best ever. The pride of my life.”
Hugo Aveiro is Ronaldo’s only brother, and he was born in 1975. He helps manage Ronaldo’s museum and other business interests in Madeira. Hugo previously struggled with alcohol addiction, something Ronaldo has spoken about as a major reason he stays away from drinking. The two now share a close bond.
Katia Aveiro was born in 1977. She is a singer, entrepreneur, and social media personality. She describes herself as a “digital influencer.” Katia is outspoken, especially when defending her brother. After Ronaldo received a red card in a Champions League match in 2018, she posted, “Football’s shame… They want to destroy my brother, but God never rests.”
In 2020, when Ronaldo tested positive for COVID-19, Katia caused headlines by claiming on Instagram that the pandemic was “the biggest fraud I’ve seen since I was born.”
FAQs
Q. What happened to Cristiano Ronaldo’s father?
A. Cristiano Ronaldo’s father, José Dinis Aveiro, died in 2005 from liver failure caused by alcoholism. He passed away when Ronaldo was 20 years old.
Q. Where were Cristiano Ronaldo’s parents from?
A. Both Cristiano Ronaldo’s parents were from Madeira, Portugal. One of his great-grandmothers was from Cape Verde.
Q. What happened to Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother?
A. Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, and the disease returned later, but she recovered again.
Q. Does Cristiano Ronaldo live with his mother?
A. Yes. Even at 40, Cristiano Ronaldo still lives with and cares for his mother, saying he owes her everything for the sacrifices she made.
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