Social media is naturally vibrant, but today it’s even more colorful due to Christmas. As the biggest religious holiday for Christians, it’s no surprise that many football stars have shared family photos on Instagram to mark the occasion. The one thing common in all their posts? The Christmas tree.
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo also posted, adding a video to his celebration. However, his way of celebrating was quite different. The football legend, bare-chested, took a plunge into icy cold water to wish everyone a Merry Christmas—and he did it in none other than Santa Claus’s country.
Ronaldo is spending quality time with his family in Finland’s Lapland, which is considered the real home of Santa Claus, located at the northernmost edge of the country. The temperatures here can drop from minus 3 degrees Celsius to as low as minus 16, sometimes even reaching minus 30 degrees. Now, imagine the situation!
Despite the extreme cold, Ronaldo took on the challenge of jumping into the water. While he was braving the cold, his son was seen in winter clothes, clearly not ready to join in the madness! After emerging from the icy water, Ronaldo posted a picture with the caption: “Merry Christmas everyone.”
Earlier, Ronaldo also posted a picture of himself riding a snowmobile with another son, speeding through snow-covered paths. According to Daily Mail, Ronaldo traveled with his family but refrained from participating in any risky activities. Due to his contract with Al Nassr, he’s discouraged from engaging in activities that could pose a higher risk of injury, so the family enjoyed the winter sports instead.
The Saudi Pro League is currently on a break, and Ronaldo will be back on the field on January 9th for a match against Al Okhdood. At 39, Ronaldo has scored 16 goals in 19 matches this season, though Al Nassr is currently 11 points behind the top team, Al Ittihad, after 13 matches.
