Cristiano Ronaldo has forged an impressive legacy in the history of soccer. Nevertheless, his retirement is drawing closer with each season. As a result, the hopes of his fans are now pinned on his son: Cristiano dos Santos. The 14-year-old has gone through the youth ranks of almost every team his father has played for. Currently, he plays for the Al Nassr youth team and continues to develop steadily. Due to his growing level, Cristiano Jr. received a call-up to one of the national teams he is eligible to represent.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Portugal, his son, Cristiano dos Santos, was born in San Diego, California. Nevertheless, he holds Portuguese nationality through his father. He also possesses Spanish citizenship, having spent most of his life in Spain, as per CBS Golazo. Given his eligibility, all three national federations: Portugal, Spain, and the United States had shown interest in securing his commitment for international play. However, Cristiano Jr has already made his decision.
On May 6, Portugal U-15 head coach Joao Santos officially included Cristiano dos Santos in the national team’s latest squad. The call-up means the son of the Portuguese legend will take part in the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament in Croatia. Portugal is scheduled to face Japan on May 13, Greece on May 14, and England on May 16.
Right after the call-up, Cristiano Ronaldo showed his support on Instagram. He posted a Story that said, “Proud of you, son.” Then, he followed up with a photo of his son wearing the Portuguese shirt.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal
Nevertheless, it does not rule out the possibility of Cristiano dos Santos representing another national team in the future. In fact, many professional players have switched allegiances successfully. For example, Aymeric Laporte, who now plays for Al Nassr, followed a similar path. He went through all youth levels with the French national team. However, he later chose to represent Spain at the senior level.
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What would have to happen for Cristiano dos Santos to represent another national team?
For Spain or the United States to convince Cristiano Ronaldo’s son to represent their national team, several conditions must apply. First, he must play no more than three official matches for Portugal’s senior team. Then, he needs to stay away from international games for at least three years. Also, he cannot play in the final stage of a World Cup or a continental tournament.
Until those requirements are met, Spain and the United States still have a chance to convince him. However, that possibility seems unlikely given his deep connection to Portugal and the powerful legacy of his father. In the end, only time will tell which nation he chooses to represent.
How did Cristiano Ronaldo fare in his time with the Portuguese U-15 national team?
Cristiano Ronaldo began his international career with Portugal’s U-15 team on February 24, 2001. He played 9 games and scored 7 goals. After that, he kept progressing and eventually became the biggest legend in the history of the national team.
Although comparing them does not help his son, the spotlight will always follow him. Still, this is a great opportunity to follow his father’s path. He now has the chance to play his first 3 games and take a strong step into global soccer.
