Cristiano Ronaldo is a household name in the world of soccer. Known for his exceptional on-field performances and larger-than-life persona, he owes much of his success to the support team working behind the scenes. Among the key members of this team is his mother, Maria Dolores dos Santos Viʋeiros da Aʋeiro. Ronaldo has always been transparent about his humble beginnings on the small Portuguese island of Madeira and how his mother played a crucial role in his journey to his first step in his soccer career at Sporting LisƄon. So, it’s fair to say that Dolores Aʋerio is one of the biggest pillars of support behind Ronaldo’s extraordinary achievements.
The background of Cristiano Ronaldo’s parents is an interesting story. Jose Dinis Aʋeiro, Ronaldo’s father, had a variety of jobs, including working as a municipal gardener and a part-time kit man for a local club called Andorinha. His association with the club allowed Ronaldo to play for their youth team.
On the other hand, Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores Aʋerio, was a cook and played a significant role in her son’s life. She made the decision that Ronaldo should quit school in sixth grade to focus on soccer.
The Aʋeiro family resided in Funchal, a small island near the coast of Portugal, and shared the same religious beliefs as the majority of Madeira’s population. Although Ronaldo has never explicitly stated his religious views in public, he has hinted at the importance of faith in his life on occasion.
Thanks to the constant presence of his mother Dolores in his life, Ronaldo has been able to stay true to his religious beliefs. In an interview back in 2011, he mentioned that he collects crucifix necklaces to feel closer to God during his games.
Both of Ronaldo’s parents worked tirelessly to provide for their family and support their children’s ambitions. While Ronaldo’s talent and drive helped improve the family’s financial situation, it was ultimately due to the monumental efforts of his parents, particularly his mother.
However, despite her current luxurious lifestyle, Dolores had to endure a great deal of tragedy and pain on the road to her son’s success. She had to work long hours to feed and provide for her four children, often going without food herself. Ronaldo once praised his mother’s work ethic and sacrifices, revealing that she went to bed hungry so that he could have a pair of soccer boots.
On top of their poor financial circumstances, Dolores also had to deal with her husband’s alcoholism. Ronaldo’s father, a former soldier, developed a drinking problem after returning from Portugal’s war with Angola, which eventually led to domestic violence.
Despite all of this, Dolores never gave up and did everything in her power to help Ronaldo achieve his dream of becoming a professional soccer player. When he finally broke into Sporting Lisbon and earned a move to Manchester United, tragedy struck again when Dolores’ husband suffered from liver failure and passed away in 2005.
As Cristiano Ronaldo rose to fame with his football career, his mother, Dolores, moved on with her life without her husband. However, as more attention was drawn towards Ronaldo’s origin, Dolores revealed in her 2014 autobiography that she had considered aborting Cristiano, who she saw as an unwanted baby. Despite this, Dolores’ faith in God prevented her from going through with the abortion. In addition to this revelation, Dolores had battled breast cancer in 2007 and again in 2019, as well as suffering a stroke in 2020. Nevertheless, her resilience and strong character have provided immense strength to Cristiano himself, which is evident in his performances. As for where Dolores is now, it is not specified.
After staying out of the public eye for some time, Dolores has made a significant digital comeback since creating her social media account. Her Instagram profile, @doloresaveiroofficial, boasts over four million followers and more than 2,000 posts. She is currently living in Saudi Arabia with her son and often shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of his endeavors both at Al-Nassr and on the national team.
As an active member of Ronaldo’s camp, Dolores remains close to his children, particularly Cristiano Jr. She gained attention in the soccer world by penning an open letter criticizing Erik ten Hag’s treatment of Ronaldo while he was playing for Manchester United. Dolores remains an influential figure to Ronaldo, as evidenced by reports that she played a significant role in his breakup with Irina Shayk in 2015.
Before the pandemic, Dolores owned a restaurant in Brazil called Casa Aveiro but had to close its doors in 2020. Since then, she has devoted her energy to raising her grandchildren with Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez. Ronaldo has always expressed his love for his mother and their strong bond, which stems from the hardships she faced while raising him. Dolores serves as a shining example of the adage that behind every great man is a great woman, in this case, his mother.