The Heir Has Arrived! Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. Makes His Debut With Portugal U-16
The family dream begins to take shape. Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. made his debut for Portugal’s U-16 team, taking his first steps down the same path as his legendary father.
The Heir’s Debut
Cristiano Ronaldo’s eldest son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., lived a historic moment on Thursday as he made his debut with the Portugal U-16 national team. He featured in a 2-0 victory over Turkey in the Federations Cup, held in Antalya, Turkey.
The young winger, only 15 years old, entered the match in the 90th minute, with the score already in Portugal’s favor thanks to goals from Samuel Tavares and Rafael Cabral, academy products of Sporting — where his father developed — and Braga, respectively.
A New Chapter With the National Team
The Portugal U-16 squad will take the field again this Saturday against Wales, and wrap up the tournament next Tuesday against England. Known affectionately as “Cristianinho” in Portugal, Ronaldo Jr. begins a new chapter after an impressive spell with the U-15 team, where he already showcased his natural talent and fierce competitiveness.
Following His Father’s Footsteps
Back in May, Ronaldo Jr. shined in the Vlatko Markovic Tournament in Croatia, scoring a decisive brace in the final to lead Portugal to a 3-2 win over the hosts.
Just like his father, the young forward currently plays for Al-Nassr’s youth academy in Saudi Arabia, after previous stints with the Manchester United and Juventus academies.
A New Era Begins
With this debut, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. takes his first step on the international stage. At such a young age, he already displays technique, strength, and a winning mentality — all trademarks of CR7 in his early years.
The dream of father and son sharing the same pitch no longer seems impossible. In Portugal, hope rises once again — the heir has truly arrived.
