In an uncharacteristically understated first public announcement of his marriage to long-term partner Georgina Rodríguez, Cristiano Ronaldo opted against any grand opus, ditching all words in favor of their initials joined by a love heart emoji.
Love has escaped accurate description for scribes of far greater repute than Al Nassr’s captain and his concise comment has been well received. Ronaldo and Rodríguez’s joint Instagram post racked up more than three million likes within half an hour of its publication while the equivalent of roughly twice the population of Portugal had shown their affection within a day.
That should be no surprise. Ronaldo’s account is the most followed of any individual on the entire social media platform, with more than 8% of humanity signing up to regular snaps of his various different training and match photography. For someone so famous, it is remarkable how subtle the nuptials were.
British broadcaster Piers Morgan, who has interviewed Ronaldo on multiple occasions and counted him as a “friend,” claimed that the wedding was a “private and intimate moment” in Portugal. Local media have reported that the coastal resort of Cascais, near Lisbon, hosted the ceremony which was attended by their five children.
Ronaldo and Rodríguez had been in a relationship for the best part of a decade before tying the knot, which had always been on the cards. “We’ll be [married] one day, for sure,” the Portuguese forward told Morgan back in 2019. “It’s my mum’s dream as well. So, one day. Why not?” That day has now come.
‘Love at First Sight’—How Ronaldo and Rodriguez Met
By virtue of his unrivaled fame and infamous dedication to his craft, Ronaldo has long since lived an isolatory existence. James Gay-Rees, the producer of Ronaldo’s self-titled documentary in 2015, described the former Real Madrid star’s lifestyle as “pretty brutal, lonely.”
“He’s got a very small group of friends and he surrounds himself with his family,” Gay-Rees told the BBC at the time. “I think the level of sacrifice required to operate at that level is beyond most of our understanding.”
Ronaldo would first encounter Rodríguez one year after the documentary’s release while he was still playing in the Spanish capital.
“Our first meeting was at Gucci, where I worked as a sales assistant,” Rodríguez would later recall. “Days later, we saw each other again at another brand’s event. It was then that we could talk in a relaxed atmosphere, outside my work environment. It was love at first sight for both.”
“Being the partner of someone so famous is not easy but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Rodríguez added. “What I feel for him is stronger than anything, any kind of pressure.”
The model and influencer starred in her own documentary—I Am Georgina—where she revealed that marriage has been a topic of light teasing among her friends. “Since Jennifer Lopez’s song ‘The Ring Or When’ came out, they started singing it to me,” Rodríguez laughed. “And well, this is not up to me.”
When Will Cristiano Ronaldo Play Soccer Again?
Ronaldo’s previous public appearance struck a very different tone compared to this notable bright spot. Portugal’s captain was helpless as eventual champion Spain eked out a 1–0 win in the World Cup round of 16 tie last month.
The 41-year-old confirmed that this will be his last appearance at the global tournament but new Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus opened the door for his return in the next set of international fixtures. “If he is in a position to be called up, I will do so,” Ronaldo’s former Al Nassr manager bluntly explained.
Before a return to international duties, Ronaldo will first be back in action in the Saudi Pro League. Al Nassr begin the defense of their top-flight title on Saturday against Al Fateh before starting King Cup of Champions on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
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