Cristiano Ronaldo Junior is following in his father's footsteps now that he has been called up to a youth team for Portugal. The fourteen-year-old son of the Al-Nassr player has been selected to join Portugal's Under-15 squad this month.
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Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., the eldest son of global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, is set to take a major step in his budding football career.
The 14-year-old has been officially called up to represent Portugal at the Under-15 level, marking the beginning of what many hope will be a journey that mirrors, or at least honors, the illustrious path of his legendary father.
Just like his father, Cristiano Jr. full name Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro Jr. currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, having joined the youth ranks after his father’s transfer to the club in 2022. Now, between May 13 and 18, the young talent will get his first taste of international football by donning the Portuguese jersey at a prestigious youth tournament in Croatia. There, Portugal’s U15 team will face off against some of the world’s best young talents from Japan, Greece, and England.
This tournament, although not officially a UEFA competition, serves as a critical development platform for emerging stars, and Portugal’s selection of Ronaldo Jr. reflects both his individual promise and the legacy that follows him. While the spotlight on his surname brings intense pressure, his performances in recent years have proven that he’s more than just a famous name he’s a capable young footballer in his own right.
News of his selection was made public by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), sparking global headlines not only because of Cristiano Jr.’s potential but also because of the emotional response from his father. Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al-Nassr’s senior team and continues to perform at an elite level well into his late 30s, took to social media shortly after the announcement. In a brief but heartfelt message, he wrote: “Proud of you, son,” a phrase that resonated deeply with fans around the world.
This gesture wasn’t just a father praising his child it was one of football’s greatest ever players acknowledging a significant milestone in his son’s life, perhaps seeing a reflection of his own early steps in the beautiful game.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s career is already etched in history. With 219 international caps for Portugal and 136 goals, he is both the most capped international male player in history and the top goal-scorer in international men’s football. His influence on the sport is immeasurable from his rise at Sporting CP to his dominance at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and now Al-Nassr, he has been a beacon of excellence and longevity. That his son is now beginning his own journey on the international stage is a storyline that has captured the imagination of football fans everywhere.
Before joining Al-Nassr’s youth setup, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. had already begun carving out his path. He played in the youth academies of both Juventus and Manchester United two of the same clubs where his father became a global superstar. At Juventus, he often appeared in youth matches, sometimes scoring goals that went viral on social media for their uncanny similarity to his father’s style and movements on the pitch. When the Ronaldo family returned to England for Cristiano Sr.’s second stint at Manchester United in 2021, Junior joined the Red Devils' youth academy, continuing his development there before relocating to Saudi Arabia.
Although Cristiano Jr. has yet to make his professional debut, the call-up to Portugal’s U15 team represents a major milestone. It is often at this age that national teams begin to track and nurture elite talents for future senior squads. While some sons of famous players struggle under the weight of expectation, those who succeed often show the same hunger, discipline, and love for the game that propelled their fathers to greatness qualities Cristiano Jr. appears to be embracing.
Despite the buzz, it’s important to remember that he is still a teenager, with years of development ahead. Youth tournaments such as the one in Croatia offer exposure to high-level competition and provide young players with their first taste of national pride. For Portugal, a country with a proud footballing tradition, nurturing young talent has always been a priority and this new generation is being carefully watched as potential successors to a golden era led by Cristiano Ronaldo himself.
As Cristiano Jr. prepares to wear the national colors for the first time, the comparisons with his father will be inevitable but so will the hopes and dreams of millions who grew up admiring CR7. Whether he follows exactly in his father's footsteps or forges his own unique path, one thing is clear: the Ronaldo legacy continues.
