Cristiano Ronaldo is “at home” with his family after the tragic loss of his newborn son.
The soccer star announced via Instagram on Thursday that he and his partner Georgina Rodríguez are taking their little girl home, days after the death of their twin brother.
“Gio and our little girl are finally with us,” Ronaldo captioned a photo of the family sitting on a couch with their newest member.
“We would like to thank everyone for the kind words and gestures. Your support is very important and we have all felt the love and respect you have for our family.”
He added, “Now is the time to be thankful for the life we’ve just welcomed into this world.”
Ronaldo, 37, and Rodríguez, 28, announced in October 2021 that they are expecting twins.
“We are pleased to announce that we are expecting twins👶🏻👶🏻. Our hearts are filled with love – we can’t wait to meet you ❤️🏠 #blessed,” the Portuguese model captioned a photo of the ultrasound scans at the time, later revealing their unborn babies were a boy and a girl.
Ronaldo is also father to son Cristiano Jr., 11, twins Mateo and Eva, 4, and daughter Alana, 4.cristiano/Instagram
Earlier this week, Ronaldo and Rodríguez announced the devastating news that one of their babies didn’t make it.
“It is with our deepest sadness that we must announce that our little boy has passed away. It’s the greatest pain a parent can feel,” they said in a joint statement.
“Only the birth of our little girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness. Our little boy, you are our angel. We will always love you.”
The couple, who have been together since 2016, thanked fans for their support. WireImage
The couple, who began dating in 2016 after meeting at a Gucci store, are also parents to 4-year-old Alana.
Additionally, the world-renowned athlete is a father to son Cristiano Jr., 11, and twins Mateo and Eva, 4, through surrogacy.
“The birth of our little girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness,” the couple said in a statement. AFP via Getty Images
As love poured in from fans and friends around the world, players from Manchester United and their opponent Liverpool stood up to applaud Ronaldo in the seventh minute of their game on Wednesday night.
The tribute was a reference to Ronaldo’s shirt number.
“One world… One sport… One global family… Thank you Anfield,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram after Liverpool fans sang their anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
“Me and my family will never forget this moment of respect and compassion.”