The Truth About Cristiano Ronaldo's Relationship With Georgina Rodriguez
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first soccer player to earn a billion dollars in 2020, cementing his place in sporting history. He was only the third athlete to hit this milestone (Tiger Woods and Floyd Mayweather got there first, according to Forbes), just another accolade in a career full of them. Best known for his spells at Manchester United in England and Real Madrid in Spain, the Portuguese goal-scorer has won multiple titles in Europe's top divisions and has been awarded the Ballon d'Or (the most prestigious individual honor in the world of soccer) on five separate occasions.
He's also won plenty of awards for his looks. People magazine once named him one of their sexiest athletes (citing his "jaw-dropping Emporio Armani underwear ads" as the clincher), an assessment that Spanish Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez would most definitely agree with. Ronaldo's girlfriend and baby mama has been gushing about her relationship with the soccer star since they welcomed a daughter in 2017, marking the end of his playboy days (he once had a reputation as a ladies man and went on dates with the likes of Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton in his younger years, according to The Sun).
Unlike many of the women that Ronaldo has been romantically linked with, Rodriguez wasn't famous in her own right before they met. That all changed when she caught the eye of Portugal's captain, but was it really love at first sight? Here's the truth about Cristiano Ronaldo's relationship with Georgina Rodriguez.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez met at a Gucci store in Madrid
Georgina Rodriguez was working as a sales assistant at a Gucci store in the fashion mecca of Madrid when she first laid eyes on Cristiano Ronaldo, who had just popped in to do a bit of shopping. According to Rodriguez, the soccer star (who was playing for the famous Spanish team Real Madrid at the time) came in for some designer clothing and left with her heart. "Days later we saw each other again at another brand's event, and it was then we could talk in a relaxed atmosphere, outside of my work environment," she told Elle Italia. "It was love at first sight for both of us."
Rodriguez went into more detail about her electric first meeting with Ronaldo when she sat down for an interview with Grazia, telling the magazine that she was in total awe of him. "His height, his body, his beauty caught my attention," she said (via AS). "I was trembling in front of him, but a spark ignited. I am very shy and perhaps this stirred me more in front of a person who, with one glance, had touched me deeply." When Rodriguez realized that Ronaldo was kind and caring as well as unfeasibly handsome, she knew she'd found the one. "The way Cristiano treats me, cares for me and loves me did the rest," she added.
Georgina Rodriguez had to quit her job because of 'aggressive' reporters
Becoming the girlfriend of Cristiano Ronaldo makes it practically impossible to work a normal job, as Georgina Rodriguez found out the hard way. According to Foot The Ball, she was asked to step down from her role at Gucci "as bosses feared that the presence of increased paparazzi would scare away clients." She then landed a job at Prada, but she was forced to step down when journalists began posing as customers to get close to her. She said that "the situation became unbearable" during her Grazia interview (via AS), revealing the scary lengths the paps were willing to go to.
"People were chasing me," Rodriguez recalled. She added, "Little by little I started working behind the counter to curb the aggressive curiosity of the press. At one time it was unsustainable: I changed, but still they were all over me." In the end, the only solution was to wear the clothes instead of selling them. Rodriguez signed a contract with premier modeling agency Uno Models (per The Sun), but that didn't stop photographers and reporters from hounding her. In fact, the attention has only intensified since her foray into modeling. "I can't go out safely because there is always someone who wants to photograph me," Rodriguez said. "That's why I always have to worry about my safety."
Having a baby brought them closer together
Cristiano Ronaldo has four kids at the time of this writing. His eldest child, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. (who goes by "Cristianinho," meaning "little Cristiano"), is following in his famous father's footsteps, having signed a youth contract with his dad's current team, Italian giants Juventus. He's "already impressing with his goal return," according to The Sun. The identity of Cristiano Jr.'s mother was never made public, and it was the same with twins Eva and Matteo, who arrived via surrogate in 2017. All three were born in the United States, but their little sister, Alana Martina, is a native of Spain.
Georgina Rodriguez gave birth to Ronaldo's second daughter via C-section at Madrid's Hospital Universitario Quironsalud on November 12, 2017, a date that was carefully chosen by the soccer star, according to Hello!. Having the birth on a Sunday meant he had ample time to spend with his newborn child and his partner before he was back in action for Real Madrid the following Saturday, the mag noted. Alana's arrival "has definitely brought us closer," Rodriguez told Hello! at the time. "We're happier together than ever. I'm very proud of him. When we got home from hospital, he'd organized a surprise dinner, with all our nearest and dearest. I felt like the luckiest woman in the world."
What's Georgina Rodriguez's relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo's other kids like?
Georgina Rodriguez has become a mother figure to all of Cristiano Ronaldo's kids, and she adores all of them equally. "The children are our joy," the former shop assistant told Hello! magazine soon after Alana's arrival, posing for some exclusive pictures with the infant. "We wake up and the first thing we do is hug and kiss them, put them in their little chairs and watch them while they have their breakfast, make sure they have everything they need, and so on all day long. This is a very special time for us all."
She's also been spotted alongside Cristiano Jr. at a number of events, and while they sometimes appear a little bored, that's because these things can drag on — they've actually got a really warm relationship. She's often seen hanging out with Ronaldo's firstborn son, whether it's on the sidelines at a soccer game or out and about in Italy (she "treated [Cristiano Jr.] to a shopping trip in Milan" in 2020, according to the Daily Mail). They also regularly hang out together at home. "Home is where my family is," Rodriguez told Hola! magazine (via The Sun). "The place where I am happiest is my home, with my children and partner. Our house is our refuge, our temple built with so much love."
Cristiano Ronaldo opened up about his relationship with Georgina Rodriguez in his big Piers Morgan interview
Cristiano Ronaldo got emotional when he sat down for an in-depth interview with Piers Morgan in 2019, breaking down in tears as he revealed that his father never got to see him become the global superstar he is today. The soccer icon opened up about his whole life and career in what he described as "one of the most revealing interviews" he has ever given, in a tweet. "Cristiano Ronaldo Meets Piers Morgan" aired to great success on ITV (Morgan said that he had "never seen such an extraordinary outpouring of incredible positivity for any interviewee" in a tweet of his own), with viewers warming to the player's personality.
One of the most touching moments came when Ronaldo discussed his relationship with Georgina Rodriguez, or "Geo," as he calls her. "She helped me so much," he told Morgan (via Mirror). "Of course, I'm in love with her." He went on to say that it's only a matter of time before they make it official and tie the knot. "One day. No, we'll be one day, for sure," the Portuguese star said during the interview (via Mirror). "It's my mum's dream as well. So, one day. Why not?" Speaking of their relationship, Ronaldo said, "It's great. She's my friend. We have conversations. I open the heart for her, she opens the heart for me." The couple was actually rumored to have married in secret later that year, but nothing was ever confirmed.
Georgina Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo have cheat days
Despite his age, Cristiano Ronaldo remains in top physical condition. He's so fit, in fact, that medical professionals are genuinely astounded by him. Soccer players in their mid-30s are usually in the twilight of their careers, but Ronaldo has looked after his body so well that he appears to have barely aged at all. "In the kindest way possible, Cristiano Ronaldo is a freak of nature," said Sport Bible. "It has emerged that the striker's physical state has been compared to a 20 year old after results in his medical show that he has 7% body fat and an incredible 50% muscle mass, which is significantly better than his fellow professionals of that specific age group."
Staying in such good shape requires a strict diet, and Ronaldo's girlfriend ends up eating healthy as a result. "We tend to eat the same because we always eat together," she told InStyle magazine (via The Sun). "Sometimes I like to cook and surprise Cris. My star dish is lentils with chorizo sausage." When "Cris" is away, however, Rodriguez lets her hair down, breaking out the snacks and junk food. "Me and the kids spoil ourselves," she admitted. "We ask for pizzas for example. Or we stuff ourselves with popcorn." According to Ronaldo's mother, he's also fond of a pizza cheat day. In fact, he allows himself one pizza per week, "but afterwards he does loads of sit-ups," Dolores Aveiro told Portuguese TV (via The Sun).
Georgina Rodriguez stood by Cristiano Ronaldo when he was accused of rape
Cristiano Ronaldo's world was turned upside down when he was accused of rape by American woman Kathryn Mayorga, who met the soccer star at a Las Vegas hotel in 2009. Mayorga told authorities about an alleged assault on her at the time, but she refused to give a name or a location. "She reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement with the Portuguese star in 2010, but sought to reopen the case in 2018," the BBC reported. "Ms Mayorga's lawyer said she had been inspired to re-open the case by the #MeToo movement." Ronaldo insisted that their meeting was entirely consensual, going online to defend himself.
"I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me," he tweeted. "Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in. Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense." Georgina Rodriguez followed suit and didn't play into the hands of the press, but she made sure to make her support for her baby daddy known. The model simply re-tweeted her man's message and added a series of emojis that made it clear who she believed. The case was dropped when prosecutors concluded that "allegations of sexual assault against Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt" (via the BBC).
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Does Georgina Rodriguez actually like soccer?
Georgina Rodriguez has been spotted in the stands at many soccer games over the past few years, both at the club and international level. The truth, however, is that she's not really a fan of the sport; she's just a fan of her beau. "He is the only one who manages to excite me during a game," she told Grazia magazine (via AS). "I am fortunate to be the partner of the best football player of all time. When he is on the field I experience an infinite number of emotions. He doesn't have any rivals." Fans of Argentina's Lionel Messi would disagree with that (he and Ronaldo are widely considered inseparable in terms of talent), but there's no bad blood between the two players.
Ronaldo alluded to his longtime rivalry with Messi during a live stream direct from his backyard, reminding his Instagram followers that his beloved girlfriend is half-Argentine. "I love Argentina! People thinking I don't like Argentina, but I like it," he said, before pointing the camera at Rodriguez and adding: "A lot!" The Portuguese powerhouse is happy to give fans the odd glimpse into his idyllic family life, for which he's truly grateful. "I am blessed," he said in the same live stream. "Great family, great kids. I'm a happy person, you know?"
Georgina Rodriguez is pretty handy around the house
Georgina Rodriguez gave readers of Gazzetta dello Sport's Sportweek magazine a fascinating insight into her life with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021, revealing that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner doesn't concern himself with the upkeep of their fancy property (there's an indoor and an outdoor pool in his mansion, according to Hello!). In fact, Ronaldo has never so much as changed a lightbulb. "It's an impossible task as our ceilings are so high," Rodriguez said (via AS). "If you were Cristiano Ronaldo would you embark on changing a bulb six meters from the floor? of course not. I look after these matters. I enjoy looking after things at home and ensuring the welfare of the family."
Changing lightbulbs may be an unnecessary risk for a player of Ronaldo's pedigree, but that's not the only chore that he shirks. According to Rodriguez, you will rarely find the Juventus ace in the kitchen. "Cristiano is an excellent father and I could not dream of having a better partner, but he doesn't cook," she told the Italian sports mag. "After a busy day he deserves a fine meal prepared with love and care and although we have a chef, sometimes I prepare dinner." You may be wondering why she cooks when the family has a chef, but Ronaldo is known to eat six meals a day, so there's always a lot of food prep going on.
Georgina Rodriguez hasn't forgotten what life was like before Cristiano Ronaldo
She may have been working at a luxury fashion store, but life wasn't exactly easy for Georgina Rodriguez when Cristiano Ronaldo walked into her life that fateful day. The mom and model was featured on the cover of InStyle magazine in March 2021, and in the accompanying interview, she revealed that she often struggled to make ends meet back in her younger years. "I empathize with people a lot due to my humble origins," she told the mag (via Lecturas). "I have worked hard and I have had a sacrificial life and the universe has rewarded me with the greatest thing: a beautiful family."
Like many rich people who began life with very little, Rodriguez isn't miserly when it comes to her cash. Her modeling money, combined with Ronaldo's many streams of income, means they enjoy a very comfortable lifestyle, and she feels it's only right to give back. "Now that I can, allowing myself to help others is what satisfies me the most," she added. "I also know what it is to start at the bottom and reach the end of the month." Ronaldo's girlfriend revisited her former hometown of Jaca, Spain, in 2021 as part of the upcoming Netflix documentary, "Georgina." She lived there until the age of 17, when she moved to Madrid, per the Daily Star.