Passing the baton: Ronaldo Jr joins game’s famous family dynasties

In a move that couldn't have come at a more opportune time, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr has been called up to Portugal's under-17 squad. The 16-year-old, who has been playing for Saudi club Al Nassr since his father's retirement in 2023, stands at 6ft 3ins and is already demonstrating the same determination to score goals that his father, Cristiano Ronaldo, is renowned for.

Ronaldo Jr's rise, however, comes with immense pressure as his father's illustrious career concluded with 146 goals in 234 appearances at the senior level. Ronaldo's son will represent Portugal in the UEFA Under-17 Championship qualifiers against Andorra, Bulgaria, and Serbia, hoping to carve out his own path in the world of football.

Ronaldo Jr is not the first son of a football legend to tread this path. Others, like Paolo Maldini's son Daniel, Paolo Maldini's son Paolo, Johan Cruyff's son Jordi, Diego Simeone's son Giuliano, George Weah's son Timothy, Alf-Inge Haaland's son Erling, Peter Schmeichel's son Kasper, and Lilian Thuram's son Marcus, have also made their own names in the sport.

The challenge of following in their father's footsteps is ever-present, but for Ronaldo Jr, the opportunity to make his mark is as promising as it is daunting.