Cristiano Ronaldo announced the devastating news Monday that one of his twin babies died during child birth.
“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,” the soccer star and his partner, Georgina Rodríguez, announced in a joint statement on social media.
“Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness,” they continued, confirming that their daughter survived.
The couple ended their message by thanking the doctors and nurses that helped them while they were in the hospital and asked for privacy as they grieve.
“Our baby boy, you are our angel,” they concluded. “We will always love you.”
The Manchester United star, 37, and Rodríguez, 28, announced in October that she was pregnant with twins.
“Delighted to announce we are expecting twins
. Our hearts are full of love – we can’t wait to meet you 
#blessed,” she captioned a photo of the ultrasounds.They later shared their unborn babies were a boy and a girl.
Rodríguez and Ronaldo are also parents to 3-year-old daughter Alana, but the soccer player is also dad to sons Cristiano Jr., 11, and twins Mateo and Eva, 4, from unknown surrogates.
The couple have been dating since 2016 when they met at a Gucci store where she worked as a sales assistant.
“Days later we saw each other again at another brand’s event,” she recalled to Italy’s Elle magazine. “It was then that we could talk in a relaxed atmosphere, outside of my work environment. It was love at first sight for both.”
The post has been flooded with messages of condolences from famous friends and fans alike.
His mother, Dolores Aveiro, shared a single emoji of a face weeping tears.
In a message written in Portuguese, Brazilian footballer Felipe Melo said: “God knows all things, I’m sorry legend.”
“It is with our deepest sadness that we have to announce that our boy has died. It is the greatest pain a father and mother can feel. Only the birth of our little girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and joy.
“We would like to thank the doctors and nurses for all their qualified care and support. We are all devastated by this loss and we affectionately ask for privacy at this difficult time. Our boy, you are our angel. We will always love you.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, already had four other children: Cristiano Júnior, twins Eva and Mateo and Alan Martina.
Piers Morgan – who struck up an unlikely friendship with the star after interviewing him in 2019 – wrote: “Heartbreaking news. My deepest condolences to you and all your family.”
Marcus Rashford said on Twitter: “Thoughts are with you and Georgina brother. I’m so sorry.”
Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake said: “So sorry my friend.”