Cristiano Ronaldo’s life journey has been an incredible one, from a young boy collecting garbage and begging for food for his family to becoming a wealthy football legend. The Portuguese superstar, now 38 years old, grew up in poverty. During his childhood, Ronaldo had to beg for food to help his family survive. Currently, his estimated net worth is over $900 million, making him a solid financial support for his mother and three siblings.
In the history of world football, Ronaldo is recognized as one of the most successful players of the 21st century. He is likely to be among the rare athletes to reach the billionaire status in the sports world.
Looking back at Ronaldo’s humble beginnings, it is astonishing to see the remarkable journey he has gone through. He was raised in a poor family with an alcoholic father. The Ronaldo family lived in the Sao Pedro neighborhood of Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
Young Ronaldo collected garbage and begged for food
As a young boy, Ronaldo took on the job of sweeping the streets in the neighborhood to earn a small income and support his family’s daily needs. He even went begging for food to help them have enough to eat. … Ronaldo has become a role model for success and fame in international football. In addition to a flourishing career, he has also managed to build a colossal fortune. What makes Ronaldo most sorrowful is that his father could not witness the great success his youngest son achieved. His father passed away due to liver failure in 2005. Despite not being able to witness his youngest son’s triumphs, Ronaldo’s father knew from the early stages of his football career that he would become a star in the world of football.
Jose Dinis Aveiro, Ronaldo’s father, was heavily addicted to alcohol, and there was not a single day when he wasn’t drunk. Jose earned a living as a gardener but had an unstable job. He also had many psychological issues. All the burdens of the family rested on the shoulders of Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores.
In previous interviews, Ronaldo proudly shared the difficult journey he went through. Seeing his family struggling to get enough food, young Ronaldo decided to take up jobs like street cleaning to earn extra money for his mother. He would also stand outside food shops to ask for leftover food that was about to be discarded by the owners.
Pain over his addicted father
Despite the challenging upbringing, Ronaldo has never felt bitter when recalling those days. He has grown into a responsible man and remains close to his mother and three siblings. He shares a good relationship with his family.
Having stopped attending high school at the age of 14, Ronaldo embarked on his professional football career full-time.
Now, at the age of 38, Ronaldo is one of the world’s wealthiest athletes. He earns an estimated $200 million annually while playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Some financial news outlets estimate Ronaldo’s net worth at over $900 million. The possibility of Ronaldo becoming an official billionaire one day is entirely feasible.
Ronaldo owns expensive real estate in many cities around the world, not to mention the value of his brand and image in the market, which will bring substantial long-term economic benefits to the U40 legend. Ronaldo’s potential to earn massive sums even after retirement is evident. He has reached the status of a durable and charismatic star, surpassing the ups and downs of his playing career.
