Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed family BBQ before newborn twin's death

Cristiano Ronaldo's partner Georgina Rodriguez posted a video of a family barbecue just hours before the death of their newborn son, it emerged today.

The Manchester United star had scored a hat-trick in his side's 3-2 victory against Norwich City on Saturday and was seen walking off the pitch with the ball under his shirt, which gave the appearance of a baby bump.

Also over the weekend, Ronaldo is believed to have enjoyed a family gathering in the spring sunshine with Miss Rodriguez as well as her sister Ivana and a Spanish sports reporter friend of the footballer's called Edu Aguirre.

It is not clear exactly when the gathering took place, but Ronaldo can be seen wearing an Adidas training top and the sun appears to be low in the sky, which suggests it most likely took place after Saturday's match.

Ronaldo and Miss Rodriguez were expecting twins but only their daughter survived delivery. Miss Rodriguez is thought to have given birth at a hospital in Manchester, given that Ivana – who lives in Gijon, Spain - was in the North West along with Mr Aguirre and the journalist's partner Julia Salmean, who is close to Miss Rodriguez.

Ivana became a mother for the first time last November with Spanish boyfriend Carlos Garcia and starred in the recent hit Netflix programme 'I Am Georgina' about her sister's rags-to-riches life.

It had originally been believed that Miss Rodriguez would give birth to her twins at the private Quirónsalud Madrid University Hospital near to the £4.8million in the gated estate of La Finca which Ronaldo still owns.

Miss Rodriguez was reportedly seen visiting the hospital during her visit to Madrid in January with Ronaldo, when they stayed in a suite in the five-star Rosewood Villa Magna Hotel after a romantic meal together.

She gave birth in a VIP suite in the prestigious hospital to their daughter Alana Martina on November 12, 2017.

But sharp-eyed social media followers spotted Ivana with a baby believed to be her four-month old daughter Deva on her lap at the barbecue.

Portuguese journalist Adriano Silva Martins appeared to claim on TV station CMTV that the birth had been a Caesarian, by saying it had been 'programmed' to take place yesterday because it was a day between games for Ronaldo. Manchester United are due to face Liverpool at Anfield tonight, but Ronaldo is unlikely to play.

Miss Rodriguez posted footage of the barbecue on her Instagram Stories early yesterday morning, showing a leafy residential street and wrote in Spanish: 'Good Morning Manchester.'

But a post on the Portuguese footballer's Instagram page read last night: 'It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that our baby boy has passed away. It is the greatest pain that any parents can feel.

'Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness.'

Ronaldo, 37, and Miss Rodriguez, 28, paid tribute to their 'angel' baby boy, saying 'we will always love you'.

'We would like to thank the doctors and nurses for all their expert care and support,' the couple said. 'We are all devastated at this loss and we kindly ask for privacy at this very difficult time.'

The couple first revealed they were expecting twins in October, posting a social media photo of themselves in bed holding a baby scan.

'Delighted to announce we are expecting twins. Our hearts are full of love – we can't wait to meet you,' Ronaldo wrote. A picture of the player with his four children in their hot tub, all holding up two fingers to represent the twins, was also shared.

The couple already have four-year-old daughter Alana Martina, who was born in November 2017.

Ronaldo is also father to Cristiano Jr, 11, whose mother's identity has been kept secret by the footballer. United's top scorer is also father to twins Mateo and Eva, four, who were reportedly born via a surrogate in 2017.

Ronaldo's sister Katia Aveiro led messages of support, posting photos of the bereaved couple with her son Jose.

'I love you and my heart is with you over there,' the singer wrote on social media. 'May God take care of you and strengthen your path more and more.'

She mentioned her and Ronaldo's father Dinis who died of liver failure, aged 52, in September 2005. 'Our angel is already on father's lap,' she wrote. 'And our little girl is there firm and strong and full of health and is going to show us with every day that only love matters.'

Manchester United posted a message saying: 'Your pain is our pain. Sending love and strength to you and your family at this time.'

And Ronaldo's teammate Marcus Rashford wrote: 'Thoughts are with you and Georgina, brother. I'm so sorry.'

Dinis passed away aged just 52 after a life of alcoholism. Ronaldo was only 20 when he died.

The Manchester United striker broke down in tears in an emotional interview with Piers Morgan in September 2019 when he was shown an old video of his father.

Mr Morgan also shared his sympathies with Ronaldo, posting: 'Heartbreaking news. My deepest condolences to you and all your family.'

Ronaldo's mother Dolores Aveiro replied to the Instagram with a sad-face emoji, while Diogo Dalot replied with a love heart.'

His Manchester United team-mates such as David de Gea and Alex Telles also replied with love-heart emojis as the dressing room sent their support to their star player.

Ronaldo's former club Real Madrid said in a statement: 'Real Madrid, its president and board of directors are deeply saddened by the passing of one of the children that our dear Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, were expecting.

'Real Madrid shares in the family's pain and wishes to send them all of our warmth.'

Manchester City, Liverpool, Leeds and the Premier League were among many others sending the couple messages of condolence on Twitter.

Since meeting in 2016, Miss Rodriguez has followed five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo from Madrid to Turin and then Manchester, as he left Real Madrid for Juventus and United.

Ronaldo's oldest son Cristiano Jr was born in the United States in 2010 but immediately taken back to Madrid to be raised in Spain. The identity of his mother is unknown.

In June 2017, the then-Real Madrid star surprised fans with the news he had welcomed twins Eva and Mateo through a surrogate, and just one month later he and Miss Rodriguez announced they were expecting their first child together.

Asked by Spanish publication El Mundo whether he was 'happy' to be expecting again, he said: 'Yes, very much.'

Miss Rodriguez then gave birth to their daughter Alana on November 12, 2017, with the sportsman announcing the news on Instagram, writing: 'Alana Martina is just born! Both Geo and Alana are doing great! We are all very happy!'

Ronaldo and Miss Rodriguez famously met while she was working as a retail assistant in Madrid, as they caught eyes across the rails in a Gucci store in 2016.

In 2020, she admitted that the chance meeting with Ronaldo made her 'fall in love at first sight'.

She claimed that the feeling was mutual following their encounter as she revealed in a recent interview with Italy's Elle magazine.

Miss Rodriguez said: 'The first meeting with Ronaldo was at Gucci where I worked as a sales assistant. Days later we saw each other again at another brand's event.

'It was then we could talk in a relaxed atmosphere, outside of my work environment. It was love at first sight for both.'

Ronaldo has in the past claimed he wants to take his tally of children to seven, matching his notorious shirt number and lifestyle brand CR7.

Speaking during an interview in China in July 2017 when he had just three kids and had been dating Miss Rodriguez for around a year, he was quoted by Portugese daily Correio da Manha as saying: 'My eldest Cristianinho is very happy.

'He's doing well and says he wants more brothers and sisters. He wants seven, the magic number, and I think that's good.'

Ronaldo is thought to have handed the match ball following the win over Norwich to 17-year-old youngster Alejandro Garnacho who was included in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time, although he stayed on the bench.