After surviving the devastating earthquake in Venezuela

Ronaldo to Andres: 'Get well soon... and stay strong'

July 5, 2026 - 02:29 | Last update: July 5, 2026 - 02:29

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Abdulrahman Al-Hijab (Riyadh) @alhigab502

Once again, football proves it is more than just a game. During the ongoing 2026 World Cup, we have witnessed many human stories of football legends and stars. The latest is Portuguese captain 'Don' Cristiano Ronaldo's touching humanitarian gesture and strong moral support for 12-year-old Venezuelan boy Andres Melis, who survived the devastating earthquake that recently struck his country.

Andres' story topped social media after he was trapped under rubble following a violent earthquake that struck the La Guaira region last June 24, resulting in a major tragedy with the loss of all his family members, and the boy suffered severe injuries in the hospital that led to the amputation of one of his legs.

Despite this suffering, Andres held onto his passion for football, expressing a simple wish to get Ronaldo's World Cup album sticker, after losing his album under the rubble.

As soon as the story spread through a wide solidarity campaign online, the Portuguese captain responded directly, sending a video message to the boy from the residence of his national team participating in the World Cup. Ronaldo appeared addressing the child, saying: 'Hello Andres, how are you? I send you a big hug, and I wish you a speedy recovery. Since you are one of my biggest fans, I would like to invite you to attend one of my matches and enjoy together when you recover. I really look forward to meeting you. Stay strong, my friend.'