Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. Already Wearing Portugal Colors While Eyeing Real Madrid Move

Valdebebas, Madrid—While his famous father undergoes rehabilitation for a muscular injury in the Spanish capital, 15-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. took the next step in his own football journey on Tuesday, training with Real Madrid’s Under-16 squad at the club’s training complex.

The session, first reported by The Athletic, signals the possibility that Ronaldo Jr. could soon enroll in La Fábrica, Real Madrid’s storied youth academy. The teenager is currently registered with Al Nassr’s academy in Saudi Arabia but has remained in Europe while Cristiano Sr. recovers.

Ronaldo Jr.’s résumé already spans three countries and four clubs. Born in the United States, he has followed his father through Manchester United’s academy, Juventus’ youth ranks, and most recently Al Nassr’s setup. Along the way he has earned international recognition, receiving his first Portugal youth call-up in May 2025 with the Under-15 team and quickly graduating to the Under-17 squad despite his eligibility to represent the country of his birth.

Should the forward ultimately sign for Real Madrid, he will arrive carrying a surname synonymous with the club’s modern golden era. Cristiano Ronaldo is Los Blancos’ all-time leading scorer with 451 goals in 438 competitive matches and collected four of his five Ballon d’Or trophies in Madrid, while helping the club secure four Champions League crowns, two La Liga titles, and ten additional pieces of silverware between 2009 and 2018.

Forging an individual identity inside the same institution where his father became a legend is a daunting prospect, yet recent academy graduates offer a template. Current first-team captain Federico Valverde emerged from La Fábrica, while 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch earned senior minutes under new Castilla boss Álvaro Arbeloa during an injury crisis this season. Elsewhere, academy products Achraf Hakimi and Marcos Llorente have blossomed into La Liga and Champions League standouts after leaving Madrid, and Argentine creator Nico Paz is starring for Como in Serie A with a potential Bernabéu return rumored for this summer.

Ronaldo Jr. could also draw inspiration from Enzo Alves, the 16-year-old son of club icon Marcelo, who put pen to paper on his first professional contract with Real Madrid in January.

For now, the focus remains on the training pitch at Valdebebas, where the next generation of Galácticos is groomed. If Ronaldo Jr. officially joins La Fábrica, the scrutiny will intensify, but so will the platform for a teenager determined to carve his own path—one Portugal cap, and one Madrid session, at a time.