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Ronaldo's record-breaking 2024 could be his best yet after dropping huge hint

talksport.com, 31 December 2024, 17:00
Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed a memorable 2024 on the pitch, and he has hinted at even more joy away from it.

The Portuguese superstar picked up two prizes at the annual Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Friday after another record-breaking year for club and country.

Ronaldo was named the Best Middle East player in 2024 for his exploits with Saudi outfit Al Nassr, while he also received special recognition for being football's all-time top goalscorer.

And after collecting his second award, the 39-year-old paid tribute to long-term partner Georgina Rodriguez, and appeared to let slip a huge detail about his personal life in the process.

In his acceptance speech, Ronaldo referred to Rodriguez as his 'wife', sparking rumours that the couple have secretly tied the knot.

He said: "It's a big pleasure to win this trophy. My oldest son [Cristiano Junior] is here, my wife [Georgina] is here.

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"[Georgina] is my lovely support all the time to carry on to play. In one month I'm gonna be 40 years old but I'm not finished yet.

"I will continue because I want to win titles, I want to be a champion. I want to score more goals, I want to try to win for the national team."

The couple have been together since 2016 after meeting in Spain during Ronaldo's eight-year spell at Real Madrid.

They share two children together, while Rodriguez, 30, is also stepmother to the Al Nassr star's three other kids.

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This isn't the first time that Ronaldo has publicly referred to Rodriguez as his wife, previously doing so in a video on his record-breaking YouTube channel, where they also appeared to be wearing wedding rings.

And while it is unclear as to whether the Portugal captain has hit this particular milestone in 2024, his professional life has delivered plenty more landmark occasions this year.

With his 40th birthday fast approaching, Ronaldo has shown no signs of slowing down, netting 42 goals for club and country since January.

Most notable of all will surely be the 900th of his career, which he recorded in a Nations League win with Portugal in September.

In doing so, Ronaldo become the first man in history reach the astonishing figure, whilst also extending his lead over long-time rival Lionel Messi in the all-time international football goalscoring charts.

The Euro 2016 winner sits comfortably ahead in first place with 135 goals for Portugal, while second-place Messi has 112 for Argentina.

And he has been just as deadly for his club side in 2024 too.

This year, Ronaldo has netted on 25 occasions in the league, placing him just short of some of European football's standout performers.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer has 26 goals to his name across the calendar year, while goal machines Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski lead Ronaldo's tally by just two goals, having scored 27 times each.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner will be certainly be glad to finish ahead of Messi here, who trails him in this category after finding the net on 20 occasions for Inter Miami.

Ronaldo's goalscoring form this year saw him finish as the Saudi Pro League top scorer for the 2023/24 campaign with 35 goals.

This was a new league record, but did not result in team success as Al Nassr were pipped to the title by Al Hilal.

But with the footballing icon already setting his sights on reaching the 1000-goal landmark before retirement, fans can expect him to target adding plenty more to his tally of 10 this season in 2025.

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