Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez plan luxury wedding weekend in Funchal

Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to marry Georgina Rodriguez in his home city of Funchal next weekend, with the ceremony expected to take place at Funchal Cathedral before the celebrations move to the five-star Savoy Palace.

The 41-year-old Portuguese forward, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, is understood to be marrying Rodriguez, 32, in a lavish ceremony on Madeira. The report was published by the British newspaper The Sun.

The wedding reception is expected to be held at the Savoy Palace, a luxury hotel featuring four restaurants. According to the report, weddings at Funchal Cathedral usually begin at 15:00 before guests move on to the hotel for the next part of the celebrations.

The reported plans differ from earlier claims that the couple would exchange vows at Quinta da Regaleira, an estate in Sintra, during the current weekend. Those reports have been cast into doubt after it emerged that the estate is due to remain open to members of the public during that period.

A source quoted by The Sun said hotel guests had been informed that some parts of the Savoy Palace would be unavailable.

“Hotel guests have been told that two floors will not be available for use on Friday and Saturday, along with several areas set aside for bars,” the source said.

The reported choice of Funchal carries particular significance for Ronaldo. The Madeira capital is where he was born and raised, and the city includes a bronze statue erected in his honour. A hotel there also bears his name.

Ronaldo’s wealth is estimated at between $1.2bn and $1.4bn, but a return to the city where he grew up is said to hold strong emotional value. He was raised in poverty and shared a bedroom with all of his siblings before his football career took him away from home.

At the age of 11, Ronaldo left Madeira to join Sporting CP in Lisbon. He subsequently developed into one of football’s most recognisable players, although the details of his reported wedding arrangements point back to the island where his story began.

The couple’s wedding has attracted considerable attention because of Ronaldo’s global profile and Rodriguez’s public presence. However, the reported schedule, venues and arrangements remain based on information published by The Sun.

If the plans go ahead as reported, the ceremony at Funchal Cathedral will be followed by a reception at the Savoy Palace, bringing the celebrations back to Ronaldo’s birthplace and childhood home.