Behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s well-sculpted exterior lies a heart of gold.
The Portuguese soccer superstar displayed his humanitarian side by paying $83,000 so a 10-month-old boy can have life-changing brain surgery, USA Today reported Wednesday.
Erik Ortiz-Cruz suffers from cortical dysplasia, a brain disorder that causes him to have as many as 30 seizures per day. Ortiz-Cruz’s family had been trying in vain to cover the costs of his treatment until a family friend reached out to Ronaldo.
The friend originally asked Ronaldo to donate cleats or a signed Real Madrid jersey for an auction on the child’s behalf, but Ronaldo offered that and much more. The FIFA Ballon d’Or winner decided to pay for Ortiz-Cruz’s surgical procedure, all follow-up visits (which cost $8,000 each time) and visit the stricken child in the hospital.
For helping a sick child to whom he had no previous connection, Ronaldo wins this week’s “Good Guy Award” by a landslide.
See young Ortiz-Cruz below.
[tweet https://twitter.com/SocialRMadrid/statuses/443343981246554113 align=’center’]
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