Cristiano Ronaldo’s son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, has a wide range of international options when it comes to choosing the national team he will represent – and an African country could be among them.
Cape Verde, the small but proud island nation in the Atlantic Ocean, could be a surprise destination for the teenage footballer, thanks to family roots tracing back to the archipelago.
The 13-year-old, already making waves in youth football, has the luxury of being eligible to play for several countries – including the United States, England, Spain, Portugal, and Cape Verde.
While the first four have world-class infrastructure and big footballing reputations, Cape Verde holds a special emotional and ancestral link.
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Ronaldo Jr is eligible to represent Cape Verde through his paternal great-grandmother, Isabel da Piedade, who hailed from the West African island nation.
She was the grandmother of Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother.
That ancestry gives Ronaldo Jr a legal pathway to Cape Verdean nationality.
Though Cape Verde has never qualified for a World Cup, they have been on the rise in recent years, regularly competing at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Their technical style, Portuguese-speaking culture, and diaspora-based squad could be an appealing fit for Ronaldo Jr, especially if he seeks to forge his own legacy away from his father’s towering shadow.
The young Ronaldo was born in San Diego, California in 2010, making him automatically eligible for the United States national team.
His birth in America was reportedly a strategic decision by his father during his time at Real Madrid.
The United States has long been touted as a potential home for rising dual nationals, and Ronaldo Jr could follow that path if he opts for a team with guaranteed World Cup appearances.
He also has links to England, where Cristiano Ronaldo spent two spells at Manchester United, first between 2003 and 2009, and later from 2021 to 2022.
FIFA’s eligibility rules allow children of footballers who spend a significant time in a country to apply for citizenship, and Ronaldo Jr reportedly spent time in England during those periods.
Spain is another possibility, as Ronaldo Sr lived and played in Madrid for nine years.
Marca reports that living in Spain for three years before the age of 10 could qualify Ronaldo Jr for Spanish nationality.
But the sentimental and symbolic connection to Cape Verde could carry special weight.
The Cape Verdean Football Federation has not officially commented on the possibility, but fans on social media have already begun dreaming of a day when Cristiano Jr dons the blue of the Tubarões Azuis (Blue Sharks).
At the moment, the teenager is progressing through the youth ranks and recently made headlines after scoring a series of goals for Al-Nassr’s youth team in Saudi Arabia, where his father currently plays.
He has also spent time in the youth systems of Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United – following closely in his father’s footsteps.
The decision on international allegiance doesn’t need to be made now, as FIFA rules allow players to switch countries up until they play a competitive senior fixture.
But as Cristiano Ronaldo Jr’s star continues to rise, so too will the speculation.
Cape Verde, with its history of producing technically gifted players like Ryan Mendes, Garry Rodrigues, and Nuno da Costa, could benefit immensely if the son of one of the greatest players of all time chooses to represent his ancestral land.
For now, it remains a dream – but a dream that fans across Africa and the Cape Verdean diaspora will be watching closely in the years ahead.
