Ronaldo Pays Emotional Tribute to Late Father on Father’s Day

Cristiano Ronaldo has honoured his late father, Jose Dinis Aveiro, with a touching message to mark Father’s Day, reflecting on the lasting influence of his dad on his life and career.

Aveiro, who worked as a kit man at local club Andorinha, played a key role in Ronaldo’s early development in football. However, he passed away in 2005 due to liver failure when Ronaldo was just 20 years old and still in the early stages of his career at Manchester United.

To mark the occasion, the Al-Nassr forward shared a series of photos on Instagram, including a family picture with his children and a throwback image of himself with his father. In his caption, Ronaldo wrote, “Where I come from and who I live for. Happy Father’s Day,” alongside a heart emoji.

Despite his rise to global stardom, Ronaldo has often spoken about his difficult relationship with his father, who struggled with alcoholism. In a past interview with Piers Morgan, he admitted, “I never spoke with him, like a normal conversation. It was hard,” adding that he “didn’t know his father 100 per cent.”

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also revealed that he has avoided cemeteries since his father’s death, explaining his absence from the funeral of a teammate’s father in recent years.

Ronaldo also recalled the support he received from his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson during that difficult period. He said, “My father was in hospital, and I was so emotional, very low. I spoke with him and he said: ‘Cristiano, go there for two or three days.’ We had difficult games coming up and I was a key player.

“He said: ‘It will be tough… but I understand your situation and I’ll leave you out and you can go and see your father.’”

Now playing for Al Nassr FC, Ronaldo continues to reflect on his humble beginnings, with his Father’s Day message serving as a reminder of the deep personal experiences that have shaped his journey.