Category: ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 14-year-old son was on the books of Manchester United when his dad returned to Old Trafford for his second spell

The son of Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo has earned his first call-up to the Portugal Under-15 national team.

At just 14 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr is currently playing for Saudi side Al-Nassr’s youth team where his father plays for the senior side. The teenager has been selected as part of a 22-player roster for the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament in Croatia.

The tournament will pit the young Portuguese talents against their counterparts from Japan, Greece and England between May 13 and May 18. Ronaldo, who turned 40 in February, took to his Instagram story to share the under-15 squad list and expressed his delight with the caption: “Proud of you, son.”

Having experienced the youth systems at Juventus and United, where his father also adorned the pitch, Ronaldo Jr has been continuing his development in football at the Saudi Pro League which his dad joined in December 2022. Ronaldo Sr has supported his eldest son in his pursuit to follow in his footsteps, but is also keen not to put any pressure on him.

“This generation, it is difficult to tell them something and let them do it,” he explained last year via The Mirror. “They will always see their daddy as an example; they see me every day in what I do, at home, in training, or in a game.

“They see me work a lot. Right at this moment, Cristiano wants to be a football player but I don’t make big pressure, I make a little.

“He’s 14 years old, he has pressure already to be the son of Cristiano [senior]. Let him do his own mistakes, but I hope that in the future he can be a professional player.

“If he doesn’t become a player, maybe another job, but I will always support him. We cannot put pressure on our sons because we are famous.”

He added: “It makes me happy to be here, not just because my son is here too. This age is very important because in four or five years they will be professional.

“So my advice is to believe, listen to coaches, work hard, don’t sleep late. This is what I say to Cristiano.

“I really believe that in a few years one of them, a few of them, will be in the first team.”

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Jorge Mendes, the former agent of Cristiano Ronaldo, has paid €18m to Portuguese authorities despite pleading innocence in a tax fraud case.

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By LEWIS BROWNING

Published: 15:07 EDT, 6 May 2025 | Updated: 18:22 EDT, 6 May 2025

Wayne Rooney has hailed Lamine Yamal as ‘the one to take over’ from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Yamal has taken European football by storm in the last few months, from being an integral part of the Spain team that won Euro 2024 to hitting 100 appearances for Barcelona as they chased a Treble.

Yamal won the Copa del Rey with Barca last month, and they are now targeting LaLiga success. He started their semi-final second-leg clash with Inter Milan on Tuesday night, though they lost 7-6 on aggregate.

The wider football world has been full of praise for the 17-year-old, who scored a sensational solo goal in the first leg in Spain last week.

The strike took him to 15 goals in all competitions this season, while he has also picked up 24 assists while forming an impressive partnership with Raphinha on the opposite flank.

And Rooney, who was a youth sensation himself at Everton before joining Manchester United, has offered Yamal perhaps the highest praise possible, insisting he is the next big thing in world football. 

Lamine Yamal will be the player to take over from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, according to Wayne Rooney

Yamal was targeting a Treble with Barcelona as he played in the Champions League again on Tuesday evening

Ronaldo (left) and Messi (right) have been regarded as the best players of the generation

Rooney (left) branded Yamal a ‘superstar’, while Daniel Sturridge (right) suggested he still has another level to go up to

‘He’s incredible,’ Rooney said on Amazon Prime’s coverage of the semi-final clash. ‘Barcelona tend to have these kind of players.

‘Obviously, Messi and Ronaldinho and Figo and Rivaldo and all these players. He’s the latest one. What I love about him is that he’s got no fear. He commits defenders, makes them make a decision and he’s obviously got composure with his goalscoring.

‘I think he’s the next player. We’ve had Messi and Ronaldo over the last 20 years, he’s the one to take over.’

Rooney continued: ‘It is a different generation. He looks fun to be around and he’s active on his social media which the fans now want to see.

‘I think the most important thing is what he does on the pitch. If he keeps doing what he’s doing, keeps progressing then… He’s a superstar. I can’t wait to watch him play.’

Still just 17, the winger could have a lengthy career at the top of the game. With Barcelona four points clear at the top of LaLiga, he is aiming to add another trophy to his collection before he turns 18 in July.

He still, though, has another level to go to. That’s according to Daniel Sturridge, who praised the forward’s ‘God-given ability’.

‘He’s gifted,’ Sturridge said. God-given ability is what he has. The progression is going to be how much does he want to be the best.

‘God is going to give you the talents, you work hard obviously but then it’s down to you to continue pushing and go to the next level. You see with the greats of the game, they are all obsessed with being the best.