Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. follows his father's footsteps

In a small Croatian village, a familiar name echoed across the pitch as Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, the eldest son of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, took a major step toward his sporting legacy.

At just 14 years old, the young forward made his international debut for Portugal’s Under-15 national team, proudly wearing the iconic No. 7 shirt—just like his father.

The match, part of the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament, saw Portugal take on Japan in a thrilling encounter that ended 4-1 in favor of the Portuguese.

Ronaldo Jr. was subbed on in the 54th minute, making his mark as a left winger, the same position his father famously played early in his career.

The game was highlighted by a hat-trick from Rafael Cabral and another goal by Henrique Amen. But much of the attention was on Ronaldo Jr., whose presence on the field drew excitement from fans and scouts alike.

Cheering from the stands was his grandmother, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, who proudly witnessed her grandson's milestone moment.

His father, Cristiano Ronaldo, expressed his pride on social media with a touching message: "Congratulations on your debut for Portugal, son. Very proud of you!"

Just days later, Ronaldo Jr. earned his first start for the U15s in a 1-1 draw against Greece.

He played for 59 minutes before being substituted, as Portugal equalized late through a goal by Gonçalo Santos.

Scouts from some of Europe’s top clubs, including Manchester United, Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Tottenham Hotspur, were reportedly in attendance, keeping a close eye on the young talent.

With previous experience in youth setups at Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United, Ronaldo Jr. has already impressed, notably scoring 58 goals in one season during his time at Juventus.

Now part of Al Nassr’s youth academy in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo Jr.'s journey is just beginning.

But with each confident touch and composed appearance, the football world watches closely to see if he can carry the weight of a legendary surname—and perhaps one day, write a legend of his own.