- Although Cristiano Ronaldo is known for his egocentric character on the football field, few know his softer and more charitable side.
- The Portuguese striker was once named the most charitable athlete in the world.
- He revealed early in his career that the reason he doesn’t have any tattoos is so he can donate blood more frequently.
- Ronaldo, who is also a bone marrow donor, decided to donate blood when the son of his Portuguese teammate Carlos Martins fell ill with leukaemia.
- Discover more stories at Business Insider Spain.
Cristiano Ronaldo is, without a doubt, one of the best footballers of all timeBut many people also dislike the Juventus striker for his overconfident and arrogant personality.
Few, however, know Ronaldo’s softer side, as well as his dedication to charity work. For example, in 2015 Ronaldo was named the most charitable athlete in the world. Some of his actions include auctioning off his 2013 Ballon d’Or for $775,000 to donate the proceeds to the Make-A-Wish foundation, funding the construction of a pediatric hospital in Chile, and even paying for the cancer treatment of a 9-year-old fan.
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Although his outward appearance may fit all the clichés of a self-obsessed footballer – the hairstyle, the luxury cars and the designer clothes – there is one detail that stands out: Ronaldo’s body is not covered in tattoos. He stands out in a sport where these are very popular among players. But why has the superstar chosen not to touch his body?
In an interview with the Italian media Direct, Ronaldo explains: “I don’t have tattoos so I can donate blood more often.”
Although people with tattoos can donate blood, they can only do so four months after getting a new one, according to the Red Cross, due to the risk of infection. The same rule also applies to piercings or permanent makeup.
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Ronaldo decided to donate blood for the first time when the son of his Portuguese teammate Carlos Martins fell ill with leukaemia in 2011. The boy, then three years old, was diagnosed with a very rare type of blood disease.
Cristiano Ronaldo is also registered as a bone marrow donor“I did it many years ago and if I had to do it again, I would do it, because this is a very serious disease for many children and we need to help them… It’s a simple process and then you feel happy because you know you’re helping someone else,” he once said.
So while Ronaldo still fits the image of a typical football millionaire, his tattoo-free body seems to be proof that he also uses his fame to make the world a little better.
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Tags: Curiosities, Cristiano Ronaldo, football