A little pitch invader got his selfie, and a mascot girl had a fan moment – Cristiano Ronaldo has a big heart for his young fans. Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, one of the most famous and successful football players in the world, is known not only for his athletic achievements (including multiple FIFA World Player of the Year awards and the 2016 European Championship) but also for his kind gestures towards fans. The interactions of the Portuguese star striker with his young supporters repeatedly touch hearts worldwide, showcasing the human side of the highly disciplined superstar.
A Pitch Invader’s Selfie Goes Viral
Recently, during the second half of the European Championship group match between Portugal and Turkey on Saturday evening (June 22) in Dortmund, a boy ran onto the field to get a photo with his idol. He got his selfie with a smiling Ronaldo, and the picture went viral, as seen on the popular sports social media platform “433.” Reports indicate that the boy has since been banned by UEFA from attending any further Euro 2024 matches due to his actions.
A Touch from Ronaldo
Ronaldo also made a little girl incredibly happy before the aforementioned European Championship game. She was the mascot for one of his teammates standing next to him. During the national anthem, she dared to touch him. Although Ronaldo barely reacted, after the anthem, he hugged the overjoyed girl. These scenes also made it onto the platform.
Mascot Girl in a Wheelchair
Ronaldo’s interaction with another mascot child a few days earlier also made headlines. At a friendly match shortly before the start of the European Championship, the Portuguese player walked onto the field with a girl in a wheelchair. How tenderly the sports professional cared for the little girl can be seen in a video on “Sport TV Portugal” on Instagram. “This Ronaldo moment is more beautiful than any of his goals,” commented “Sport Bild.”
Jersey for a Crying Fan
Throughout Cristiano Ronaldo’s long career, there have been countless touching superstar-fan moments. After a match in 2021 between Portugal and Ireland, a girl broke through the security barriers and made her way to the field to hug the then 36-year-old while crying. Although security initially tried to stop her, Ronaldo hugged the child and gave her his jersey, as reported by “Planet Football.”
Paying for Cancer Treatment for a Boy
Earlier that same year, an off-field action became known. Cristiano Ronaldo and his girlfriend, Argentine-Spanish model Georgina Rodríguez, 30, helped pay for the cancer treatment of then seven-year-old Portuguese boy Tomas. As “Mail Online” reported, a touching message shared on social media by Rodríguez’s sister Ivana confirmed the couple’s involvement in covering the costs.
Cancer-Stricken Boy Visits Juventus Training Ground
In the spring of 2019, Ronaldo made a young fan suffering from cancer happy by flying little Joseph from Bristol, England, and his family to Turin, Italy. There, the boy received a personal tour of the football club’s training ground from the superstar, as seen on the X account of the charity organization “Rays of Sunshine.”
Paying for Surgery for a Seriously Ill Baby
In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo was asked by the initiators of a charity campaign if he would donate a jersey or a pair of football boots for an auction. The money was intended for the surgery of a then ten-month-old seriously ill baby named Erik, as reported by the US sports magazine “Bleacher Report.” The fate of the little Spaniard touched the football star so deeply that he covered the costs of about 70,000 euros entirely.
Today, Wednesday (June 26), Cristiano Ronaldo and his team will once again take to a European Championship football stadium. At 9 p.m., the final group stage match of Group F will be held in Gelsenkirchen against Georgia. Ronaldo himself is the father of five children aged 14 to two years, whom he raises with his partner.