Cristiano Ronaldo Says His Daughters Inspired His Proposal to Georgina Rodríguez

Cristiano Ronaldo says his daughters played a major role in giving him the final push to propose to longtime partner Georgina Rodríguez.

In a new sit-down conversation with British journalist Piers Morgan, the 40-year-old soccer legend opened up about why he felt the timing was finally right to ask Rodríguez, 31, to marry him after eight years together.

“I always say the good things come in the right time. I'm going to propose to her because I think it's the right moment, not only because it's the mother of my kids, but the person that's the love of my life,” Ronaldo told Morgan.

 He continued, “Nothing is going to change just because we're going to marry. It's just a beautiful chapter of the life.”

Ronaldo and Rodríguez, who made their relationship public in early 2017, share five children: twins Eva Maria and Mateo, 8, daughter Alana, 8, and daughter Bella, 3. Ronaldo is also father to his eldest, 15-year-old Cristiano Jr., whom he welcomed before their relationship.

The couple has also endured a heartbreaking loss. In April 2022, they announced the death of their infant son. “It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that our baby boy has passed away. It is the greatest pain that any parents can feel,” Ronaldo wrote at the time. 

“Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness.” He concluded the statement, signed by both him and Rodríguez, by writing, "We are all devastated at this loss and we kindly ask for privacy at this very difficult time. Our baby boy, you are our angel. We will always love you.”

As for his proposal, Ronaldo said the idea came to life in an unexpectedly sweet way thanks to his daughters.

“It was like 1 a.m. and my daughters [were] in bed sleeping, Alana and Eva. And one of my friends gave me the ring to offer to Gio [Georgina]," he recalled. “I was given the ring, and my two girls come and they say, ‘Daddy, you're going to give the ring to mom, and you're going to ask her to be married.' And I say, ‘Wow, this is the right moment to say yes.’ It was in the timing.”

He said he always knew he would propose eventually, but their encouragement made everything click. “I knew I would do it one day. But it was the moment that my daughters [came when I said], ‘Yes, now is the time. This is what I want,”’ he explained.

Although he didn’t drop to one knee, Ronaldo said he still managed a heartfelt delivery. 

Describing his speech as “simple,” he admitted, “I'm not a very romantic guy. I'm not the kind of guy that brings flowers to the house every week. But I'm romantic in my way," adding, “It was beautiful, and I knew it was the woman of my life, so I did it.”

According to Ronaldo, Rodríguez immediately said yes. What touched him most was that “she didn't care about the ring.” Instead, she pressed him on whether he was truly serious about getting married. “[I was like], 'Yes, yes, I want to marry you.' But she didn't believe,” he said.

Ronaldo said he managed to hold himself together but admitted he still "had tears in my eyes.”

When Morgan jokingly asked if the emotion was “because of the cost of the ring,” Ronaldo burst out laughing and replied, “Both.” The soccer player then added, "I mean, I've seen human beings get blinded by that ring when she walks around.”