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Football: Cristiano Ronaldo’s eldest son earns first Portugal U15 call-up

14-year-old Cristiano dos Santos has been named in Portugal U-15 national football team for Vlatko Markovic youth tournament in Croatia.

14-year-old Ronaldo Jr is currently with his father at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. (Reuters/File)

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2016 Euro winner Cristiano Ronaldo’s eldest son Cristiano dos Santos has been named in the Portugal U-15 national football team for the first time on Tuesday night. With Santos being named in the Portugal U-15 team, the Al Nassr footballer shared the news on Instagram sharing the news of Santos’ selection and congratulating his son.

“In addition to the matches, the Portuguese team will also hold four training sessions, two at the City of Football and two on Croatian soil. For this moment of concentration of the national team, National Coach João Santos called up 22 athletes. Here is the complete list of players called up,” Ronaldo’s Instagram post read about the team sheet having Santos Name. Ronalso also scribbled his congratulations over the team list. ‘Proud of you, son!’ posted Ronaldo.

14-year-old Ronaldo Jr is currently with his father at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia as per BBC. According to the schedule, the Portugal U-15 team will play in a youth tournament named Vlatko Markovic youth tournament in Croatia from May 13 to May 18 with Portugal set to play Japan, Greece and England U-15 national sides in the tournament. Ronaldo Jr has been a trainee of academies of Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United and Al-Nassr. Santos was a trainee of Manchester United youth set-up from 2021 to 2022, when his father made a move from Manchester United to Al Nassr for a deal till 2025. According to a BBC report, Ronaldo Jr scored 58 goals in a season during his time with Juventus’ academy during the time when his father was with the Italian club from 2018 to 2021. Ronaldo Sr had made to the Portugal U15 side in 2001, for which he played nine games and scored seven goals.

The 14-year-old had also played alongside England star Wayne Rooney’s son Kai in the youth academy at Manchester United earlier. According to BBC, the 14-year-old youngster is also eligible to play for the United States, his country of birth apart from Spain due to his father’s residency in Spain.