All About Cristiano Ronaldo's Parents, Maria Dolores dos Santos and José Dinis Aveiro

Cristiano Ronaldo’s mom Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and dad José Dinis Aveiro encouraged his soccer dreams

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the biggest names in soccer, but while he’s worked hard to make it to the top, he also credits his parents — Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Dinis Aveiro — for believing in him.

The athlete grew up in Funchal, the capital city of the Portuguese island of Madeira, with his mom, dad and three older siblings.

José was a soccer fan and worked as a kit man for a local soccer club, where he would sometimes bring a young Ronaldo along. Meanwhile, Maria worked as a cleaner as well as a cook in hospitality.

Related: Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez's Relationship Timeline

Sadly, José died in 2005, but Ronaldo continues to remember him through tributes on social media and by sharing rare stories during interviews. Since then, Maria has remained a constant support system for her son, who has also been by her side through health scares.

Here’s everything to know about Cristiano Ronaldo’s parents, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Dinis Aveiro.

Ronaldo's parents had different professions

Growing up, Maria worked as a cleaner and cook before eventually opening her own restaurant in Brazil, Casa Aveiro.

Meanwhile, José was a gardener and a part-time kit man for a local soccer team, CF Andorinha. According to The New York Times, when Ronaldo was 12 years old in the late 1990s, José was the equipment manager for Andorinha's senior team.

Before his career in soccer, though, Ronaldo's dad had been enlisted to fight for Portugal in the Angolan War of Independence in the '70s, per ESPN. Upon his return, he began working odd jobs to help support his family.

Maria and José welcomed four children

Maria and José shared four children, who they raised in the parish of Santo António in Funchal, Madeira.

They welcomed a son, Hugo, followed by daughters Elma and Liliana Cátia, the latter who is better known as Katia, according to The Guardian.

Maria and José then celebrated the birth of Cristiano Ronaldo in 1985. The athlete's mother chose the name Cristiano, and his father picked Ronaldo, after then-President Ronald Reagan, who was his favorite actor.

José believed in Ronaldo's soccer dreams from the start

In an interview with Piers Morgan in 2019, Ronaldo opened up about his upbringing, rise to fame and historic career.

Apart from reflecting on his family's humble roots, he touched on his father's struggle with alcohol and how it prevented them from forming a stronger relationship.

"I really [didn't] know my father 100 percent," Ronaldo said. "I never spoke with him, like a normal conversation. It was hard.”

Still, the athlete knew how much José believed in his ability to go far in soccer. Ronaldo's passion for the sport was fueled by his dad taking him to his part-time job at CF Andorinha, according to Diário de Notícias.

“He treated me [unbelievably]. I was like the diamond of the family, and he knew that I would be a football player," Ronaldo explained to Morgan.

José died in 2005

José died of alcohol-related liver failure at the age of 52 in September 2005, according to ESPN.

During his conversation with Morgan, Ronaldo became emotional after watching a video of his father he hadn’t previously seen, in which José spoke about one of his latest games.

“I’m proud to see my son in this situation," he said in the clip. "I could go to Lisbon to see the final but my nerves are too much. I get too anxious, I can’t do it. It’s better to see the game on TV."

According to Ronaldo, he was overwhelmed by the fact that, José never got to see his successes.

“For me, it’s made me sad because ... to be No. 1 and he [didn’t] see [anything], he didn’t see me receive awards, didn't see what I [became]," he explained.

Over the years, Ronaldo has paid tribute to his father. In 2017, he posed for a photo with his son, Cristiano Jr., and his newborn twins, Eva and Mateo, in which there was a painting of José in the background.

Related: Everything to Know About Cristiano Ronaldo's Family

Maria has an impressive following on social media

Since helping raise a family, Ronaldo's mom has explored different parts of life and captured moments for social media.

Maria has 4.1 million followers on Instagram, where she enjoys sharing photos of herself and her family. She also has a highlight dedicated to posts of Ronaldo, her grandkids and other friends.

In December 2021, she shared a photo of her family celebrating Christmas together, including Ronaldo, his longtime girlfriend Georgina Rodríguez, and their children.

Ronaldo's mother found love again

After the death of her husband, Maria started dating Jose Andrade, though their romantic timeline is unknown. They often post photos of each other on Instagram and it seems he has a good relationship with her son too.

After Ronaldo moved from Real Madrid to Juventus in 2018, Andrade posted a photo of the pair toasting the news on social media.

During Ronaldo’s time at Juventus, Andrade shared snaps of himself at the team's stadium and with Ronaldo’s kids.

Maria has experienced health issues in recent years

In 2007, Maria was diagnosed with breast cancer and overcame the illness two years later, according to Metro. Ronaldo's mom reportedly dealt with breast cancer again in 2019 and received treatment.

The following year, Maria had a stroke, and her family traveled to be by her side, including Ronaldo, who was playing in Italy. According to Sports Illustrated, she underwent surgery, and shortly after, Ronaldo expressed his gratitude to the health workers who helped her.

"Thank you for all your messages of support for my mum," he wrote on X (previously Twitter) in March 2020. "She is currently stable and recovering in hospital. Me and my family would like to thank the medical team looking after her, and kindly ask that we are all given some privacy at this time."

She appears to have made a full recovery since.

Maria and José encouraged Ronaldo's career in different ways

Although José didn't witness Ronaldo's full potential before his death, he acknowledged Maria's role in helping their son reach the top.

In the video Morgan showed Ronaldo for the first time in their 2019 interview, José praised his wife's efforts. "[Maria] is indispensable. She gives him care," Ronaldo's dad said. "She is his bodyguard; he gets five-star attention.”

The soccer star has also recognized her through heartfelt tributes, even when there isn't a special occasion.

"My mother is, without any doubt, [couragous]," he wrote on Instagram. "I feel very thankful and proud to be her son and to have her in my life."

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