Fans discover they've been saying Cristiano Ronaldo's name wrong their entire lives
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the world's most famous people, let alone footballers, yet it turns out lots of us have been saying his name wrong all along.
After Lionel Messi returned to the biggest stage with his first World Cup hat-trick against Algeria, Cristiano Ronaldo is now taking his turn to show he's still got it.
Portugal are kicking off their tournament against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston, Texas, in Wednesday's first game, before England finally take on Croatia in their opening match.
With Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe also getting on the scoresheet on Tuesday, Ronaldo will no doubt be desperate to get his own tally started.
Advert
Ronaldo, after Messi did so on Tuesday, has become the second player to play in six World Cups and is aiming to add to his total of eight goals in the tournament.
The 41-year-old has dominated football for over two decades, winning five Ballon d'Ors and five Champions Leagues and scoring a ridiculous number of goals.
Despite his ever presence in the game since the early 2000s, fans are just now learning that they've been saying Ronaldo's iconic name all wrong.
How Cristiano Ronaldo should actually be pronounced
The full Portuguese squad took part in a video in which they gave the correct pronunciation of their names.
As turns out, from the man's own lips, Ronaldo shouldn't be said as 'Ron-Al-Do' like we have all come to say, but instead 'Hon-Al-Do.'
The discovery has blown the minds of some fans, with one Reddit user writing: "I've been saying Ronaldo wrong my whole life."
Another said: "Man learning Portuguese would be a nightmare for me I think. I just can't pronounce that "R" sound at all lol."
Another asked: "Why have O's if you're not gonna use them."
Other pronunciations proved surprising, too, with Bruno Fernandes actually said as "Brun Fer-Nandg" and Nuno Mendes as 'Nun Mendg'.
This prompted another Reddit user to joke: "TIL that nobody in Portugal are able to pronounce their own names correctly."
New rules for the FIFA World Cup 2026
This year, there’s been a whole host of rule changes, many of which are designed to speed up the game and penalize players who drag things out. Some of the new regulations are likely to prove controversial.
10-second substitution
Subbed players now have to get a move on and leave the pitch within ten seconds by the nearest exit point. If they haven’t, their replacement will get held up by one minute until the next stoppage of play, and until then, their side will have to play with 10 men.
5-second throw-ins and goal kicks
If a referee thinks a player is taking too long for a throw-in or goal kick, they’ll start a five-second countdown, by which time the ball needs to be back in play. If it’s not, for throw-ins the opposing team will get their own throw-in, or for a goal kick the other side gets a corner.
Injured players to remain off the pitch for one minute
An injured player treated by medical staff off-field has to stay off the pitch for one minute, leaving their side with just 10 players.
More VAR
VAR can now be used to review an incorrectly awarded corner kick; second yellow cards resulting in a red card; when a player is incorrectly awarded a yellow or red card for another player’s actions; and any attacking fouls that occur before the ball is in play.
Players can’t cover their mouths
Players who cover their mouths in confrontational situations will be handed a red card. It’s believed players might cover their mouths to guard against lip readers while racially abusing other players, which some suspect has happened in the past.
Red cards for players leaving the pitch
Any player who leaves the pitch in protest over a referee’s decision will be handed a red card, and if a team walks off and causes a match to be abandoned, they’ll forfeit the game.
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, World Cup, Football, Sport
Daniel Murphy