Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most recognizable faces on the planet. You know him for his incredible goal-scoring records and his massive global brand. However, his journey to the top was not a straight line of success. He grew up in poverty and faced a medical condition that nearly stopped him from playing before he even turned professional. His life is full of strict discipline, surprising hobbies, and moments of intense emotion. Let’s explore the personal history of the Portuguese icon.
Cristiano Ronaldo
His name is after the American actor and President Ronald Reagan. His father was a massive fan of Reagan’s movies, not necessarily his politics, and chose the name because it sounded strong.
At the age of 15, he underwent emergency heart surgery to treat a racing heartbeat. His resting heart rate was too high, which could have led to heart failure if doctors hadn’t fixed it with a laser procedure.
Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to get any tattoos on his body. He regularly donates blood and bone marrow, and getting inked would force him to take long breaks from donating.
He was expelled from school at age 14 for throwing a chair at his teacher. He claimed the teacher disrespected him and made fun of his family’s financial struggles.
Doctors discovered that he has an extra bone in his ankle called the os trigonum. Only about 10 percent of people have this, and some theories suggest it might help him generate more power on free kicks.
A university in Canada offers a sociology course entirely dedicated to him. Students at the University of British Columbia Okanagan study his cultural impact and massive celebrity status.
As a child, his friends and family nicknamed him Crybaby. He used to cry tears of frustration whenever his teammates didn’t pass the ball or missed a goal he set up for them.
Cristiano Ronaldo also earned the nickname Little Bee during his youth days. He got this name because he was small but incredibly fast, buzzing around the field without stopping.
Cristiano Ronaldo can jump higher than the average NBA basketball player. With a running start, he can leap 30 inches [78 centimeters] into the air to head the ball.
Before he focused entirely on football, he was an excellent table tennis player. The Sporting Lisbon table tennis coach actually tried to recruit him for the professional team.
His legs are insured for a massive fortune. Real Madrid famously took out an insurance policy worth over $100 million [€95 million] to protect their investment in his body.
He became a bone marrow donor to help the son of a teammate. Carlos Martins’ son needed a match, so Ronaldo stepped up and publicly encouraged others to register as donors.
Liverpool turned down the chance to sign him in 2003. The club managers felt he was too young and needed more time to develop, which allowed Manchester United to swoop in.
He strictly avoids alcohol because his father died from alcohol-related liver failure. He prefers to drink water and fresh juices to keep his body in peak physical condition.
He opened a museum dedicated entirely to himself in his hometown of Madeira. The Museu CR7 displays his trophies, medals, and life-size wax statues of him.
