“It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that our baby boy has passed away,” wrote Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez in a social media post.
The couple was expecting the birth of twins and the Manchester United star revealed this week that he and Rodriguez had lost their newborn son.
“Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness,” the couple wrote. “Our baby boy, you are our angel. We will always love you.”
Ronaldo and Rodriguez immediately received an outpouring of support from family, fans, and the sports world.
The football star’s sister Katia Aveiro, 44, said “my heart is with you” as she posted about the family’s loss. She made a reference to their father Dinis, who died in 2005 – saying that the baby boy is “already on father’s lap.”
Ronaldo dedicated his 100th Premier League goal to his newborn son who tragically died, raising his left arm and pointing it to the sky.
He scored the goal in the first half at Arsenal after the home fans stood up to applaud United’s No 7 when the clock hit the seventh minute in a show of solidarity.
Ronaldo didn’t play on Tuesday, one day after the tragedy, against Liverpool. In a statement, the Machester United wrote, “Family is more important than everything and Ronaldo is supporting his loved ones at this immensely difficult time.”
They added, “Cristiano, we are all thinking of you and sending strength to the family.”
The English Premier League also tweeted, “The thoughts and condolences of everyone at the Premier League are with you and your family, Cristiano.”
The Manchester United player announced on Instagram at the end of October of last year that he and Rodriguez were expecting twins, and in December they revealed they were looking forward to welcoming one boy and one girl into their family.
Ronaldo is also father to 11-year-old Cristiano Jr. whom he shares with a former partner who has never been publicly named, 4-year-old Alana Martina, his first child with Rodriguez, and 4-year-old twins Eva Maria and Mateo, whom they welcomed via a surrogate in June 2017.
