According to reports, a group of local children, overwhelmed with excitement, crane their necks to catch a glimpse of Portugal’s number seven, one of the most recognizable names in the world. Many of them wear jerseys bearing the same number, competing for a better view, filming with their phones, and shouting his name: “Ronaldo! Ronaldo!”

Atletico has claimed that security personnel escorted the player to the team bus, with children running alongside to wave at him through the window. He waves back, and they scream with excitement once again.

Here we are, in the middle of nowhere: a small village in Croatia with almost no proper public transport access. Yet, looking at the enthusiasm of the crowd that has gathered just to see him, it’s clear that the name Ronaldo resonates here just as strongly as it does in Lisbon, Madeira, Manchester, or Madrid.

But the Ronaldo who has come to Sutivan Martin na Moru, five kilometers from the Slovenian border and 90 minutes away from the nearest major city, is not Cristiano Ronaldo… or perhaps he is. Yes, we’re back at that familiar point! It’s not uncommon for the children of football legends to follow in their fathers’ footsteps. In fact, it’s quite common.

Edinho, Pelé’s son, was Santos’ goalkeeper in the 1990s. Diego Maradona had a son who played in Italy’s lower leagues and was called up to Italy’s U17 team.

Stephan Beckenbauer played for 1860 Munich, Enzo Zidane was raised in Real Madrid’s academy and later had a modest professional career. Perhaps the most successful example is Jordi Cruyff, former player of Manchester United, Barcelona, and the Netherlands national team. Daniel Maldini, currently playing for Atalanta and the Italian national team, might surpass them all in the future.

Of course, none of these children have reached their fathers’ levels, though Callum Best, George Best’s son, won Love Island, something that might have made his father somewhat happy! Still, this path seems logical: good genes and access to resources most players don’t have.

But the surname… is a heavy burden. Enzo Zidane, who goes by Enzo Fernández, once said: “This won’t change. But I try to distance myself from comparisons and focus on being the best version of Enzo. People compare you, criticize you, expect more from you, and say you’re only here because you’re someone’s son.”

And so, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. is the latest legend’s son trying to step out of a giant shadow. (Theo Messi, Lionel’s son, is currently playing for Inter Miami’s youth teams, so brace yourselves for more comparisons.)

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., born in June 2010, first gained fame around the age of six. That’s when his father posted videos of him dribbling in hallways, then in parks, and later in the academies of the clubs he played for.

This boy started at Real Madrid’s academy, then trained at Juventus and Manchester United, and now plays for Al Nassr’s academy, a club in Saudi Arabia’s U17 league. He previously played a few matches for Al Mahd Academy before being officially called up to Portugal’s U15 team.

The media has covered every step of this journey, but his first international appearance for Portugal in the UEFA Development U15 Tournament was a special and different moment. Over 3,000 kilometers away from Saudi Arabia, on a small pitch in a Croatian village, Cristiano Jr. wore Portugal’s red jersey for the first time, donned the number eight, and wore the same Nike Mercurial DreamSpeed boots his father had worn.

From the moment he stepped onto the pitch, it was clear that this boy doesn’t shout, doesn’t point at anyone, doesn’t raise his voice. He’s calm, confident, not seeking attention, and doesn’t impose himself on the team. He wasn’t the image of a spoiled star’s child that some might expect, but a player who knew his place in the team.

His movements in the box were intelligent, his timing of runs behind defenders precise, his passes simple and effective, and his vision of the pitch expansive for his age. Maybe he wasn’t the best player on the pitch, but he was certainly one of the most disciplined and focused.

One of the coaches present at the tournament, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “He’s not Cristiano Ronaldo and never will be. But he has something of him. Similarities in movement, positioning, and precision. But more importantly, he’s not trying to be his father. He’s trying to be himself.”

However, just being a Ronaldo is enough to make everything seem bigger. On the pitch, every touch of the ball is met with exaggerated applause, and every successful pass is interpreted as a sign of the next legend’s emergence.

In one scene, he received the ball outside the box, turned with one touch, and shot with his left foot, sending the ball wide. The crowd got so excited it was as if he’d scored. A simple dribble past a defender and a cross that went nowhere were met with applause from half the stands. It was clear that some had come just to see Ronaldo’s son, even if only for a moment.

But what stood out in Jr.’s performance was his immunity to pressure. It was as if no one was watching him, no cameras were following him. He wasn’t looking for dribbles, not for show, not for applause. He was looking for the right space. It was as if he’d received precise psychological training to separate his surname from his sporting identity.

A Portuguese journalist traveling with the team said: “What’s interesting to me about him is his balanced personality. He’s a kid who lives under a microscope, treated like a phenomenon before he’s even kicked a ball. But when you see him, you realize he’s disciplined, even shy, not looking for cameras. This is definitely Cristiano the father’s upbringing.”

Reports indicate that Cristiano Ronaldo Sr. watches all his son’s games, either live or recorded, and reviews his performance after each match. But he never pressures him to continue his football journey, leaving the decision entirely up to him—whether he wants to continue or walk away at any time.