Cristiano Ronaldo Birthday: 10 Things you did not know about the football legend Ronaldo

Today is the birthday of football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. He is 38 years old and at the prime of his career. Born and bred in Madeira, Cristiano Ronaldo is the most famous person to come out of Portugal, as well as the most followed person on Instagram. Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about Cristiano Ronaldo. 

10 Interesting facts about Cristiano Ronaldo

• Although to us he is simply known as Cristiano Ronaldo, his full name is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro. Ronaldo was given to him by his father as a second name. This was due to the fact that his father was a huge admirer of former US President Ronald Reagan, especially in his acting career.

• His career was almost gone before it ever started when he was just 15 years old due to a condition called tachycardia, which caused his heart rate to be greater than usual even when he was resting. With this illness, playing sports is especially risky, but thankfully it was identified and treated before it got out of hand.

• He once received a request to contribute his boots to an auction to support an $83,000 surgery for a 10-month-old with a neurological condition. Although it wasn't a large sum of money for the athlete, Ronaldo's choice to pay for the procedure and any additional therapies personally demonstrates his compassion and generosity.

• He inaugurated his own museum in 2013 in his honor. This is located in his hometown of Madeira and has more than 150 pieces totaling all of the prizes and honors he has received.

• Over the course of his career, he has scored in every minute of a 90-minute game. As a defender, you cannot let up at any moment in the game because of how deadly he is from the first to the last whistle.

• The forward can rise a stunning 78 centimeters above the ground with a starting run-up (30.7 inches). This is particularly astounding considering how important a vertical leap is in basketball—it's a full 7 cm higher than the average NBA player.

• Ronaldo set a franchise record for goals scored (42) in 2008, the same year he signed a five-year, £31 million contract, and was named FIFA World Player of the Year.

• Six children, some born through surrogacy and others to separate women, are fathered by Ronaldo. Cristiano Jr., his first child, was born in the United States on June 17, 2010.

• Real Madrid declared in 2009 that it has covered Cristiano Ronaldo's legs with a 100 million euro insurance policy.

• Ronaldo doesn't have any tattoos since he regularly donates blood and doesn't want to have to wait several months after getting inked in order to do so. He has also signed up to donate bone marrow.