The fun story of when Cristiano's son met Messi: It can't be him, he's short

Dolores Aveiro, mother of Cristiano Ronaldo, is usually a private figure, but has opened up to share stories of the superstar and his family.

After suffering heart problems in 2020, she gave an interview which included memories of when her grandson, Cristiano Jr, met Lionel Messi at the gala for the Ballon d'Or in 2017.

"I was with him and I said, 'look, it's Messi,' and he replied, 'that's not Messi, he's short," she recalled.

"Then my son encouraged him to wave. Messi is a very good person. My grandson is already taller than him, [laughs] it was a very fun moment."

Sporting CP as the final destination

Despite joining Manchester United recently at the age of 36, Dolores still hopes to see Cristiano head back to his first team, Sporting CP to retire.

"Ronaldo has to come back here, he'd be here for me. He likes to watch Sporting games, I told him, 'son, before I die I want to see you back at Sporting," she confessed.

Another career

At the age of just 11, Cristiano left his home in Madeira to move to Lisbon to join Sporting, and his mother can't imagine any other path for him.

"Without football, he was nobody," she said. "He'd have been a builder. If he was, he never would've been the best in the world, form isn't valued like it is in football."

Even so, she still remembers his big break when he first left Portugal for England.

"At the end of a game against Manchester United," she continued, "he told me, 'Manchester United are interested in me.' I said, 'but you're going there, so young?' and he said, 'mum, don't clip my wings,' and that's what happened."

Now, he's back at Old Trafford in the hunt for more titles.