Ronaldo Jr. has already followed in his father’s footsteps at club level, having participated in the youth teams of the Portugal greats former clubs Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United, before relocating to Saudi Arabia with his family.
While videos of Ronaldo Jr copying his father’s signature “Siu” celebration in Al-Nassr have gone popular, the adolescent apparently scored 58 goals during his stay in Italy.
Ronaldo claimed his son was excited to one day share the ground with him in 2022. “My son tells me, ‘Dad, hold on a few more years, I want to play with you'” he said at the time.
Ronaldo Jr. was born in the United States and spent much of his early years in Spain, so qualifying him for three countries. His call-up by Portugal most likely reflects his future international loyalty even though he was born in the United States.
Ronaldo Jr’s admission in Portugal’s under-15 squad might be the first step in a generational succession that will make news for a nation whose modern football identity has been defined by his father’s extraordinary two-decade reign. Tuesday marked the beginning of the next chapter of the Ronaldo legacy as Cristiano Jr got his first call-up to Portugal’s Under-15 team, therefore starting what may become the most fascinating father-son succession tale in football.
Currently training in Al-Nassr’s junior academy in Saudi Arabia, the 14-year-old forward will join Portugal for a tournament in Croatia this month, facing Japan, Greece and England in his first taste of international football.
Portugal captain Ronaldo, forty-year-old, posted the squad announcement on social media under “Proud of you, son.”
Leading Portugal to the 2016 European Championship, the five-times Ballon d’Or winner has scored a world record 136 goals in 219 internationals and will watch with paternal pride as his eldest son seeks to follow a similar route.
