There are moments when soccer rivalries take a back seat. Moments when all that remains is the person, the loss, and the pain.
Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to stand by Lionel Messi’s side after the Argentine’s post about the death of his father, leaving a simple but deeply moving message: “A big hug to you and your loved ones, Leo. Stay strong.”
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Perhaps no one can understand better than the Portuguese star what Messi is going through right now. Ronaldo lost his father, José Dinis Aveiro, in September 2005, when he was just 20 years old and the incredible career that would follow was still in its infancy.
Time passed, and Cristiano became one of the greatest soccer players of all time, winning titles, Champions Leagues, and Ballon d’Or awards. But one void was never filled, as his father wasn’t there to witness it all.
In a moving interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo broke down when he spoke about this very fact. Speaking about the great moments of his career, he explained that his family was able to watch him reach the top, win awards, and become “number one,” but his father didn’t live to see any of it.
“The thing that saddens me the most is that my father never saw what I became,” was essentially the regret CR7 carried within him. And that’s why his words to Messi carry even greater weight. Especially when they’re directed at his greatest rival…
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*photo source: AP
