From Major League Soccer to the Premier League, soccer players love to show off their tattoos. And Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union has even hired a Chief Tattoo Officer to help build club unity. But don’t expect Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team to start getting inked. The international soccer star’s body is ink-free because, he says, “I don’t have tattoos because I donate blood very often.” In many countries, a new tattoo prevents blood donation for as long as a year, as a precaution against diseases like hepatitis. Ronaldo gives blood twice a year, and has also been a bone marrow donor.
At the top of his game:
- Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2008. He also earned Ballon d'Or honors in 2013, 2014, and 2016.
- In 2015, Ronaldo scored his 500th senior career goal. He is often considered the best player in the world and widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time.
- In 2016, Forbes named Ronaldo the world’s highest-paid athlete, taking in $88 million USD in salary and endorsements.
