Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a personal video message to Andres Mieles, a young Venezuelan boy who survived last month’s devastating earthquake but lost his family and one of his legs in the disaster.
Twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, causing severe destruction across Caracas and La Guaira. Venezuelan authorities said the earthquake claimed the lives of 2,645 people, with more than 6,000 rescued and around 86,000 families receiving emergency assistance. Mieles was pulled from the rubble in La Guaira state, but doctors were forced to amputate one of his legs because of the severity of his injuries.
While recovering, Andres said his one wish was to get a Cristiano Ronaldo sticker for his Panini World Cup album, a wish he made after being rescued from the rubble. The story spread quickly on social media after a Venezuelan content creator shared it, eventually reaching Ronaldo himself.
The Portugal captain responded with a personal video, recorded in his national team jersey. “Hello Andres, how are you? I’m making this video to send you a hug. I know you’re a super fan,” Ronaldo said. “When you get better, I want to invite you to watch a game of mine and to enjoy it. I would love to meet you. A hug, my friend.”
Footage of Andres watching the message from his hospital bed, surrounded by medical staff, circulated widely afterward. According to reports, Ronaldo is also sending him a signed Portugal jersey, and donors separately arranged for him to receive the sticker he had originally asked for.
Carlos Chiquito, the pediatric surgeon treating Mieles at Miguel Perez Carreño Hospital, thanked Ronaldo on social media. “Thank you, Cristiano, for the message of strength you sent today to our patient Andres Mieles, a victim of the earthquake,” he wrote. “A very noble gesture and a message of hope. Idol forever.”
The gesture came two days after Ronaldo helped Portugal reach the World Cup round of 16 with a dramatic comeback win over Croatia. Ivan Perisic put Croatia ahead in the 53rd minute before Ronaldo leveled from the penalty spot in the 68th, his first goal in a World Cup knockout match.
Substitute Goncalo Ramos then headed in a stoppage-time winner from a Rafael Leao cross to seal a 2-1 victory. Ronaldo, at 41 years and 147 days old, became the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout-stage match.
The win extends Ronaldo’s World Cup campaign, with Portugal now set to face Spain in the last 16. It also likely brought an end to the international career of Croatia captain Luka Modric.
