The grandmother of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has passed away on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old Portugal captain had just returned from a vacation when he found out that his beloved grandmother (from his father's side) Filomena Aveira, 87, has died.
He used Twitter to pay tribute: "Grandmother, you will always be in my heart. Rest in peace. Kisses from all your grandchildren."
Ronaldo also posted a photo of him and his son Cristiano Ronaldo Jr with Filomena on Instagram.
The news was first announced by Katia Aveiro, Ronaldo's sister. "The inevitable and expected has happened, although we are never prepared to receive the news that a loved one has gone. My father's mother was suffering and had been fighting several illnesses which had affected her for many years," she said.
Filomena reportedly suffered from Alzheimer's and other illnesses. She lived on the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira, where Cristiano was born.
Ronaldo also paid tribute to Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano, who passed away on Monday. He was 88 years old.
"Don Alfredo leaves us, but his memory will last forever in our hearts. Legends never die. Thanks for everything Maestro," Ronaldo tweeted.
Lionel Messi, the Barcelona star who is getting ready to lead Argentina in the semifinals against the Netherlands, also paid tribute on social media, saying: "The world lost a legend today, Don Alfredo Di Stefano."
"An amazing man on and off the field. My thoughts are with his family and friends," Messi said on Facebook.
Ronaldo is currently on holiday after the elimination from the World Cup. He was reportedly on Vacation in Mykonos, Greece with friends before having a trip with his supermodel girlfriend Irina Shayk.
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