Cristiano Ronaldo may beabillionaire and asoccer pro, but his life wasn’t always like this. Hecomes from apoor family and used tobeg for food atthe nearest McDonald’s. Because ofthis, heisvery familiar with what it’s like tobeinconstant need and now tries his best tomake this world abetter place tolivein, especially for children.
Hestill doesn’t have any tattoos because hefrequently donates blood.
Unlike alarge number ofhis peers, Ronaldo doesn’t have any tattoos onhis body. In2012, herevealed the main reason heavoids putting ink under his skin: “Idon’t have tattoos becauseI donate blood very often.”
Itall started with his former teammate, Carlos Martins. Hetold Ronaldo that his son needed regular blood and bone marrow transfusions, and Ronaldo was quick tovolunteer. Since then, hehas become afrequent donor and encourages many others todonate too.
People with tattoos are actually allowed togive blood too. But new tattoos can affect donations and cause aprecautionary waiting period ofanywhere between 6and 12months. Ronaldo realized that his help may beneeded today, and every minute matters, sohedecided not totake any risks inwaiting solong.
In2015, hesaid, “Wecan all make adifference bydonating blood. Each donation can benefit upto3people inemergency situations and long-term medical treatments. That’s why Iam enthusiastic tobring awareness tothe importance ofblood donation and toencourage people around the world tobecome lifelong blood donors and help save lives.”
When itcomes tobone marrow donations, many people think itissomething that ischallenging todo. But Ronaldo himself says it’s nothing more than drawing blood and itdoesn’t hurt. “Idid itmany years ago,” hesaid, “and ifI had todoitagain, Iwould because this isavery serious disease for many children, and weneed tohelp them.”
Hehelped a7-year-old tsunami survivor torebuild his family’s house and paid for the boy’s education.
Little Martunis was just 7when huge waves formed due toamassive underwater earthquake onDecember26, 2004, hitting the beaches ofBanda Aceh inIndonesia. Martunis was separated from his family but managed tosurvive the tsunami.
Hestayed alive bycrawling onsinking objects, one after another. Then heclung toabig tree floating inthe water, bringing him tothe seafront. Hesurvived for 3weeks onhis own before reuniting with his only surviving relative, his father.
Since Martunis was playing soccer right before the waves took him away, hewas found wearing the Portugal shirt with Ronaldo’s name onit. The picture ofthe little survivor went viral. Martunis’s story sodeeply inspired Ronaldo that hedecided tohelp the boy.
The soccer star reportedly paid for Martunis’s education, and the entire Portugal team gave money tohelp rebuild his family’s home. The boy met his hero 3years later, and atthe time, Ronaldo said, “Ibelieve that many adults would not even beable todeal with what hehas gone through.”
Hesold his European Golden Boot toraise funds and build several schools inGaza.
In2011, Ronaldo was awarded the European Golden Boot. And instead ofkeeping the award asanother memorable trophy, hesold itatanauction and raised astunning $1.2million. All ofthe funds were put toward building several schools inGaza.
Heoften helps his young fans.
In2009, heheard about Nuhuzet Guillen’s story, a9-year-old boy with terminal cancer. Ronaldo sent adriver tobring the boy’s whole family tothe hotel where heand his team were staying atthe time.
Hejoked around with the boy right after heemerged from the elevator, saying, “Don’t you want tosay anything?” And then heinvited the boy towatch the match inhis private box. Heeven dedicated his goal toGuillen and gave him his shirt after the match.
Ronaldo then spoke tothe boy’s father. Unfortunately, there was not much that could bedone inhis condition. However, there was anexperimental treatment intheUS that Ronaldo decided topay for.
Healso offered topay for all the boy’s medications and treatments ataprivate medical center and did sofor more than ayear. But Guillen’s condition worsened anyway, and hesadly passed away inMarch 2013.
In2014, hehelped another young fan. His mother asked Ronaldo todonate ashirt toher 10-month-old, Erik Ortiz Cruz, who had cortical dysplasia. Ronaldo paid for the initial brain surgery and offered tocover the cost ofany follow-up treatments. Although, this time, nofurther treatment was needed, and everything went just fine.
All inall, Ronaldo loves tointeract with and help his supporters, especially children. Asheonce said, “Children are and will always bethe best thing the world has tooffer, and wemust protect them atall costs. Supporters are and will always bethe bestin [soccer], and wemust respect everything they face and endure.”
Going back tothe times when Ronaldo was achild himself, hestill hasn’t forgotten 3women who gave him food back then. And hehasn’t given upsearching for them, hoping topay them back for all their kindness.
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