José Dinis Aveiro, a Portuguese municipal gardener, is best known as the father of the world-renowned football player Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite not being able to witness his son’s remarkable accomplishments in the football world, Dinis Aveiro played a crucial role in introducing Ronaldo to the game. As a part-time equipment manager for the local Portuguese football club ‘Andorinha Sport Club,’ he would bring his son to watch the matches. Unfortunately, Dinis Aveiro’s battle with alcoholism led to his untimely death at the age of 51 due to a liver-related condition. This tragic event not only fueled Ronaldo’s determination to achieve his goals but also inspired him to abstain from alcohol for the rest of his life.
Quick Facts
- Died At Age: 51
- Born Country: Portugal
- Died on: September 6, 2005
- Place of death: London, England
Family Members
- Spouse/Ex-: Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro
- Father: Humberto de Aveiro
- Mother: Filomena de Aveiro
- Children: Cristiano Ronaldo, Hugo Aveiro, Hugo dos Santos Aveiro, Katia Aveiro
British Men
Early Life & Fatherhood
José Dinis Aveiro was born in 1954 at Santo António in Portugal into a poor family to Filomena de Aveiro and Humberto de Aveiro. His paternal grandparents were Rosa Isabel da Piedade and José de Aveiro. His great grandparents José de Aveiro and Maria de Jesus worked as farmers in Madeira, Portugal.
José Dinis Aveiro married Maria Dolores dos Santos, with whom he had four children, including Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite working as a municipal gardener, Dinis Aveiro was immersed in poverty and found it difficult to even provide basic needs for his family. In fact, Maria Dolores even contemplated abortion when she was pregnant with Cristiano Ronaldo as she thought that she would not be able to raise her child because of poverty.
Introduction to Football
When Ronaldo was born, he was named after his father’s favorite Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan, who had become the president of the United States at the time of Ronaldo’s birth. Around the same time, Dinis Aveiro started working as a part-time equipment manager for a Portuguese football club called ‘Andorinha Sport Club.’ Subsequently, he introduced Cristiano Ronaldo to football, which would later become a life-defining moment for Ronaldo.
However, Ronaldo did not share a great relationship with his father, as Dinis Aveiro was addicted to alcohol. Though Dinis Aveiro did not play a major role in helping his son achieve his goal, he did play a crucial role as Ronaldo started his football career by playing for ‘CF Andorinha,’ where his father used to work. The rest, as they say, is history.
Death
By the time Cristiano Ronaldo started making headway in football, José Dinis Aveiro’s health had deteriorated because of his issues with alcoholism. On September 6, 2005, Dinis Aveiro passed away in London at the age of 51. Cristiano Ronaldo did not attend his father’s funeral and instead chose to play the same evening.
Though not intentional, Dinis Aveiro’s death went on to help Cristiano Ronaldo in his professional and personal life. Because he had seen his father self-destruct, he vowed to himself that he would never drink alcohol for the rest of his life. He also became more determined to achieve his dream of becoming one of the best football players in the world.