Cristiano Ronaldo is well-known for being careful about his diet and training, but there are other reasons why the famed player does not drink alcohol.
It is therefore not surprising that the Portuguese forward, widely considered one of the finest players in the world, does not consume alcohol and lives a very healthy lifestyle.
However, aside from abstaining from alcohol to flourish as an athlete, the 38-year-old’s desire to abstain from alcohol is claimed to be motivated by several other factors.
Cristiano Ronaldo and his father’s alcohol addiction
Ronaldo was raised by his mother, Maria Dolores dos Santos, a chef, and his father, José Dinis Aveiro, a gardener. His father initiated Ronaldo into football, but he didn’t get to see his son’s sports accomplishments until Ronaldo was 20 years old.
Ronaldo’s father passed in 2005 at the age of 52 as a consequence of liver failure caused by alcoholism, and it is believed that this is why the athlete has sworn off drinking totally.
Ronaldo broke down in an appearance with Good Morning Britain in April 2021 after seeing a video of his father that he had never seen before.
He also spoke about it, “But I really don’t know my father 100 percent. He was a drunk person. I never spoke with him, like a normal conversation. It was hard.”
His mother also spoke about the hardships they faced, “He was drunk almost every day. I never really knew him well. I would have liked him to have been around more. Although he never mistreated his children, I became his victim.
Dolores Aveiro also told how the Al Nassr player arranged for his older brother, Hugo, to attend drug addiction therapy.
"If I win the Champions League, you stop alcohol and drugs"
— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) March 11, 2023
Cristiano made a deal with his elder brother, Hugo, in 2014.
Ronaldo won it and immediately ran to his brother and said "I kept my promise, now is your turn"
That was how he changed his brother's life. ♥️👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/DeDdl0OGqk
“Cristiano has seen what drink and drugs can do to people close to him and it’s part of the reason why he’s become who he is today. What happened to our family explains why Cristiano doesn’t have vices. He doesn’t smoke and doesn’t drink. His addiction is football.”
Heart Problems
Ronaldo’s sober lifestyle may possibly be attributed to his previous heart problems. He just avoids alcohol to protect his overall health, especially because it has been linked to cardiac problems when drunk in excess.
The football star was diagnosed with Tachycardia at the age of 15. It was a disorder that causes the heart to pace even while resting and creates an erratic pulse. According to his mother, the athlete underwent a procedure to fix the problem at the source. There were concerns that if the procedure did not go well, Ronaldo’s future playing career might be jeopardized.
Despite his abstaining from drinking, Ronaldo did partake once. It was when he enjoyed a glass of champagne after he won the 2016 Euro final against France.
In an interview with DAZN, as reported by Marca, he said, “It was the most important trophy of my career. I laughed, I cried, and I got a little drunk.”
Cristiano Ronaldo:
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) December 26, 2019
"The most important trophy I have won in my career is the EURO 2016, I laughed, cried, was a coach, suffered … I got drunk after the game. I cried so much that I ended up dehydrated, drank only a glass of champagne and was a little drunk." pic.twitter.com/Vb6yEU9V0m
“At the end of the game, during the celebrations, I drank a glass of champagne and immediately it went to my head. I never drink, but that day was so special.”
Ronaldo continues to be a model professional and is an inspiration to millions around the globe. It is always nice to see a footballer having good habits that could help shape future generations to abstain from a harmful addiction.
