By Aisha Malik, Global Affairs Correspondent – Lisbon – October 23, 2025, 09:53 AM
In a move that’s electrified social media and ignited fierce debate, Cristiano Ronaldo, the 40-year-old football titan, has donated a staggering $2 million to fund food and humanitarian aid for children in Gaza, according to a breaking X post from his official account. The announcement, tagged with #CristianoCares, has fans hailing him as a “legend on and off the pitch,” while critics question the motives behind the headline-grabbing gesture. And with Ronaldo teasing “more to come,” the world is buzzing with speculation about what’s next.
The donation, channeled through a UN-affiliated relief agency, aims to provide emergency food supplies, medical care, and shelter for children in war-torn Gaza. “No child should suffer,” Ronaldo wrote, alongside a heart-wrenching image of him meeting displaced families during a low-profile visit to a refugee camp last month. The post has racked up 10 million likes in hours, with supporters flooding X with praise: “CR7 is using his wealth for good—this is why he’s the GOAT,” one user gushed.
But not everyone’s cheering. Skeptics, including prominent commentators on X, are calling it a calculated PR move to deflect from recent controversies, including Zinedine Zidane’s scathing claim that Ronaldo’s “selfish” refusal to retire is stifling young football talent. “Convenient timing,” tweeted a British journalist. “Is this about Gaza’s kids or Ronaldo’s image?” Others point to his Saudi Pro League ties, questioning whether the donation is a bid to soften criticism of his move to a country with a contentious human rights record.
The plot thickens with Ronaldo’s cryptic hint of “more to come.” Insiders whisper he’s planning a global charity tour, potentially visiting conflict zones to spotlight crises—a move that could cement his legacy beyond football or backfire as performative philanthropy. Some even speculate he’s eyeing a Nobel Peace Prize, with one X user joking, “CR7’s chasing trophies even off the pitch.”
As the donation’s impact ripples, the real question looms: Is Ronaldo a genuine humanitarian stepping up when it matters, or a master of optics playing the long game? With Gaza’s crisis worsening and Ronaldo’s star power unmatched, the world is watching. Will his next move silence the doubters or fuel the fire? Stay tuned—this story’s just kicking off.
