Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, announced Monday that their baby son has died, calling it “the greatest pain that any parents can feel.”
“It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that our baby boy has passed away. It is the greatest pain that any parents can feel,” read a message from the couple posted to Ronaldo’s Twitter account. “Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness. We would like to thank the doctors and nurses for all their expert care and support. We are all devastated at this loss and we kindly ask for privacy at this very difficult time.”
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) April 18, 2022
The couple asked for privacy and added: “Our baby boy, you are our angel. We will always love you.”
Ronaldo did not play in Manchester United’s Premier League game Tuesday. “Family is more important than everything and Ronaldo is supporting his loved ones at this immensely difficult time,” United said in a statement.
In a tweet, Manchester United added, “Your pain is our pain, @Cristiano Sending love and strength to you and the family at this time.” The Premier League tweeted, “The thoughts and condolences of everyone at the Premier League are with you and your family, Cristiano.” Liverpool tweeted, “All of us here at Liverpool FC send our deepest condolences to you, Georgina and the family.”
During Tuesday’s game, fans from both teams offered a minute of applause to support Ronaldo after the seventh minute — a figure representative of his jersey number. They followed the applause by singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
The whole of Anfield applauds after the 7th minute as a gesture of support for the absent @Cristiano after the tragic death of his newborn son. Some things in life transcend football rivalries. pic.twitter.com/2WbUkpA6xG
— Carl Markham (@carlmarkham) April 19, 2022
Ronaldo and Rodriguez have a daughter who was born in November 2017, and he is the father of fraternal twins born via surrogacy in June 2017. He also has an 11-year-old son with a former partner whom he has not publicly identified.