Ten European clubs reportedly sent scouts to watch Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. make his debut for Portugal’s Under-15s on Tuesday night. Coming off the bench in his nation's 4-1 victory over Japan, the Al-Nassr youngster had eyes from across the football world fixed on him, eager to see whether he might one day walk a similar path to his legendary dad.
Wearing the iconic No. 7 shirt - the same number his father made famous at clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid - Cristiano dos Santos offered early flashes of flair and promise, enough to get social media talking and even spark the release of a match highlights compilation showcasing his every touch and movement. Watch his full match highlights below:
But the excitement hasn’t been limited to fans and highlight reels. According to The Sun, scouts from 10 major European clubs were in attendance, watching intently from the stands to assess whether Ronaldo Jr. could be more than just a famous name, and potentially more like the next star in a footballing dynasty.
fatherson Related
11 Greatest Father-Son Duos in Football History [Ranked]
Father and son duos are something of a rarity in football, but that's not to say there haven't been any examples. Which duos have been the best ever?
The 10 Clubs That Sent Scouts To Watch Cristiano Ronaldo Jr
Manchester United and Tottenham were among those keen to get a view of him
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr
Man United will already be well-versed about the qualities that Ronaldo Jr possesses from his 14 months at their academy. Ruben Amorim’s staff will add the scout’s report to their file on the youngster, who could earn a start in one of Portugal’s remaining matches against Greece or England under Vlatko Markovic's tutelage.
But the Europa League finalists are, as expected, not the only outfit taking interest in the youngster. Their opponents at the San Mames Stadium next Wednesday, Tottenham, are also keeping a watchful eye on his development.
Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti reported that Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim, Red Bull Salzburg, Inter Milan, Juventus and Atalanta also sent scouts to cover the game. However, it wasn't the five-time Ballon d'Or winners' son that impressed the most on the night.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo Jr Related
How Tall is Cristiano Ronaldo Jr
Cristiano Ronaldo's eldest son's height has become a talking point after he was seen stood alongside Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal.
Braga forward Rafael Cabral scored a hat-trick before his famous teammate even made it onto the pitch. He is his club's top goalscorer this term, having found the back of the net 13 times.
Stealing Cristiano Jr's thunder could go a long way in helping him find a place in senior football, but there are still a few years for both of the two Portuguese starlets to prove their worth to the world, especially with Ronaldo's son still a month away from his 15th birthday.