Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. earns first Portugal U-17 call-up for Euro qualifiers

Cristiano Ronaldo's 16-year-old son, Cristianinho, has received his first call-up to Portugal's Under-17 national team. Head coach Filipe Ramos included the Al Nassr youth academy forward in a 23-man squad for this month's UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifiers against Andorra, Bulgaria, and Serbia.

The move marks the next step in Cristianinho's international progression. He debuted for Portugal's U-15 side in May 2025, then moved up to the U-16s where he scored three goals in nine appearances. Now he joins the U-17 setup as Portugal begins its qualification campaign.

Playing his club football in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr's academy—where his father currently stars for the senior team—Cristianinho is developing in a professional environment under his father's watchful eye. The qualifiers this month will be his first competitive test at this age level.

For Nigerian football fans tracking the next generation of global talent, Cristianinho's pathway mirrors the early international exposure that shaped many elite players. Will the Ronaldo name continue its dominance on the international stage, or will Cristianinho carve his own identity separate from his father's shadow?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/11/03/cristiano-ronaldo-jr-earns-first-portugal-u-17-call-up/