Cristiano Ronaldo has married his long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez in a private ceremony at their home in Portugal on Tuesday, August 11.
A spokesperson for the 41-year-old Portuguese football star confirmed the civil wedding took place in Cascais, a coastal town west of Lisbon, establishing that the couple are now officially husband and wife after ten years together.
The couple chose August 11 for the ceremony to mark the exact tenth anniversary of their first meeting in 2016, when Rodriguez was working as a sales assistant at a Gucci store in Madrid.
Living room vows and family ceremony
Despite previous public speculation suggesting an extravagant celebration, Ronaldo and the 32-year-old model opted for an intimate family gathering in the living room of their home, followed by a religious blessing.
Speaking to Vogue magazine, Rodriguez explained that they chose their living room because it is the space where they gather for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day and live their actual family life.
She expressed her hope that in 30 years their children will look at that dining table and remember that something wonderful happened there when their parents exchanged their marriage vows.
Rodriguez admitted that during her childhood she had dreamed of a lavish wedding inside a giant castle, complete with an impressive carriage, a long wedding gown, and a crown encrusted with diamonds. However, as she grew older, her desires shifted toward a far more personal setting alongside her partner and children.
She described the event as being exactly as she had imagined, calling it a private wedding filled with love where their family played the lead role, and noted that she was unable to hold back her tears during the ceremony.
Video footage and behind-the-scenes material of the preparations and wedding were published by Vogue.
Custom outfits and nod to Gucci
The couple wore matching attire from Italian luxury fashion house Gucci as a deliberate tribute to the Madrid store where they first met a decade ago, according to the Daily Mail.
Rodriguez wore a sheer white shirt paired with a skirt, satin shoes, and diamond jewelry supplied by Swiss jeweler Chopard. Ronaldo wore a custom-designed light beige cotton suit over a T-shirt, paired with loafers, while their five children wore matching outfits.
Rodriguez noted that they did not want to transform a simple, personal day into a formal occasion requiring everyone to dress in overly elaborate attire.
Blessing at Fatima sanctuary
Following the civil service at home, the newlyweds drove roughly an hour to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, a major Catholic pilgrimage site in central Portugal, where a priest pronounced a religious blessing upon their union.
Rodriguez again became emotional and shed tears during the blessing at the sanctuary. The couple will not be taking a traditional honeymoon, having already traveled back to Saudi Arabia, where Ronaldo currently plays professional football for Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo publicly announced the marriage by sharing a photograph of their new wedding rings on his official Instagram account.
Witnesses and prenuptial agreement
A copy of the marriage certificate published by Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Notícias revealed that only four official witnesses were present alongside the couple's five children.
The four witnesses were identified as Rodriguez's sister, Ivana Rodriguez; Ronaldo's long-time personal friend, Miguel Paixão; and Spanish couple José Rodríguez Sangil and Mónica González Martínez.
Ronaldo's mother, Dolores Aveiro, and his three siblings, Hugo, Elma, and Katia, were absent from the ceremony. Local Portuguese media reported that Ronaldo's family was informed of the upcoming wedding only moments before it took place.
Despite her absence, Dolores Aveiro, who has previously denied rumors of friction with Rodriguez, left a heart emoji in the comment section of her son's Instagram post displaying the wedding rings.
Ronaldo's sister Katia, who resides in Brazil, had traveled to their native island of Madeira over the preceding weekend to visit relatives. She similarly posted a heart emoji on the announcement, though she has not commented on why she and other family members were not present.
The wedding coincided with the first anniversary of the couple's engagement announcement on social media. One day prior to the ceremony, on August 10, the pair signed a formal prenuptial agreement in Lisbon to ensure their pre-existing assets remain separate during their marriage.
Plans for future celebration
While their initial nuptials were kept strictly private, Rodriguez confirmed that the couple plans to host a larger, open wedding celebration in the future for their extended family and wider circle of friends. She did not disclose further details regarding a date or location for the upcoming event.
