Even if you are not a football fan, the chances of not knowing who Cristiano Ronaldo is, are slim. While the Portuguese star is adored for his heroics on the field, he also has a legion of critics who hate him for his irritable behaviour at times. But there is one side of him which shines through all this —his generous nature (“Ronaldo looking for ‘Edna,’ girl who gave him free burgers,” Sept.21, Gulf Today).

His success on the football pitch is phenomenal but I am not sure if he will be able to find ‘Edna’ and the two other girls who gave him and his friends free McDonald burgers when they were 11. But his gesture is admirable, nonetheless.

While he is one of the top paid players and amasses millions annually he is also known to donate generously. A few years ago he sold off his Golden Boot award and donated the £1.2million, which he raised from the auction, towards building schools in strife-torn Gaza. In 2013 he again sold off his Ballon d’Or trophy and donated the entire £530,000 to Make-A-Wish Foundation.

He is a star on and off the field.

Sunil Paranjpe

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