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April 21, 2026
Even away from the noise of elite football, Cristiano Ronaldo has always had quieter escapes. From childhood roots in Madeira to moments shared on social media, fishing reveals a different side of the Portuguese icon, one tied to identity, balance, and life beyond the pitch...
In 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo posted a picture of himself on social media. He’s on a boat in the ocean with a fishing rod in his hand. Wearing a white t-shirt and red shorts, the then Real Madrid striker smiles at the camera as Aviator-style sunglasses shade his eyes from the warm glow of a morning sun. He simply captions the photo: “Love to fish. Have you ever tried it?” It was the first glimpse fans had had of the Portuguese star out relaxing, catching fish. But spending time on the sea has always been a part of his life. It goes back to his roots, growing up on the Atlantic coast in Funchal, where fishing was a way of life. When Ronaldo turned 35 in 2020, he joked that he once thought he’d be retired by now, living life as a “fisherman in Madeira.”
Cristiano Ronaldo - American dream
His viral social media photograph was taken during a break in Thailand. The player spent four days in Phang Nga. He told local media he enjoyed the opportunity to step away from the spotlight, and revealed his catches made for a tasty dinner afterwards. His trip to the southern Thai province left its mark. He said to reporters it was “the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.”
The Portuguese is one of a number of famous footballers, both past and present, to have revealed their love of fishing. Take Manchester City’s Phil Foden, for instance; he famously skipped the 2018 title celebrations just to go fishing with his dad. It’s a similar story for Newcastle United’s captain, Bruno Guimarães, who views angling as a vital mental reset. The player is known to take club staff along with him on fishing trips. Legends like former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman, Chelsea defender John Terry, and Man Utd great David Beckham are all keen anglers alongside the likes of current Premier League players Mo Salah and Noussair Mazraoui.
The increasing sight of famous sporting champions with a rod in their hands is understandable, given the rapid growth of the leisure fishing industry, particularly in Europe. The global sale of fishing rods alone has grown to over $1bn. Projections by Research and Markets suggest this will increase to $1.39bn by 2030.
With more and more people taking up angling, YouTubers like urban fishing enthusiast SnaggedBro have seen subscriptions rise, while Anglorecore, the utility wear clothing style inspired by the lakeside, has become a mainstream high street fashion trend. Elsewhere, the 5x3 slot game Fishin’ Frenzy, which features symbols including boats, buoys, and tackle boxes, continues to be a favourite among iGaming players. The BBC has even recognised this trend by commissioning the hit docuseries, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, for eight series and counting.
For Ronaldo, it’s clear that fishing is more than a pastime; it is a connection to his heritage and a rare sanctuary from a lifetime of scrutiny. While he remains the most visible face of this pursuit, he is part of a broader sporting shift that includes players like Phil Foden and Bruno Guimarães.
As angling transitions from a niche hobby into a mainstream lifestyle trend, no doubt we’ll see more footballers joining anglers by the riverside. And maybe, when he finally hangs up his boots, Ronaldo will return to Madeira and become the fisherman he once thought he was destined to be.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on April 22, against Al Ahli Doha, for the AFC Champions League Two. You can watch Al Nassr vs Al Ahli Doha, Real Madrid vs Alaves, Barcelona vs Celta de Vigo, Burnley vs Manchester City, Brighton vs Chelsea and FC Porto vs Sporting, all matches provided from our streaming sport game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Al Nassr vs Al Ahli Doha kick-off time (22-04-2026):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 02:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 23:30
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+4: 22:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+2: 20:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+1: 19:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 15:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 14:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 11:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / thesun.co.uk / yahoo.com
