Cristiano Ronaldo has finally asked long-term partner Georgina Rodríguez to marry him, but fans are only now realising what her life was like before they became an item.
Currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr, the Portuguese footballer and Argentine-born Spaniard first encountered each other back in early 2016 while Ronaldo was still playing in the white shirt of Real Madrid.
Nine years on, the newly engaged A-list couple share two young biological daughters and are raising a total of five children together.
As you'd expect, Rodríguez's world was flipped upside down as soon as they began their relationship, and people have been left shocked upoon realizing what her life was like before she met her famous other half.
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Rodríguez was 22 and working as a sales assistant at a Gucci store in Madrid when Ronaldo first walked into her life in a 'love at first sight' moment.
In her Netflix reality series I Am Georgina, which premiered in 2022, the now-31-year-old recalled how their blossoming romance unfolded: "Many times he'd come after work. He would come, I remember once, once in a Bugatti. My co-workers went crazy.
"They get there on the bus, and I would leave in a Bugatti. I mean people couldn't believe it!"
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It wasn't until March 2017 when they went Instagram official.
The then-retail employee - who grew up wanting to be a ballet dancer but was unable to afford lessons - eventually jumped ship to a Prada store in El Corte Inglés, where she was bombarded with selfie requests from shoppers who were desperate to get a whiff of the Ronaldo energy.
In 2017, their first daughter arrived, Alana Martina, and in 2022, twins Bella Esmeralda and Ángel arrived - however, Ángel sadly died at birth.
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They also co-parent Ronaldo's three other children, all of whom he welcomed before he met Rodríguez, making them a happy family of seven.
Speaking to iHOLA! for a cover interview, she splurged: "When I have him next to me, I have everything. The children are our happiness — we wake up and the first thing we do is hug and kiss them."
Reacting to this insight, people in the comments appeared generally positive when it came to Ronaldo and Rodríguez's romantic timeline.
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"Real love isn’t about flashing cash—it’s about loyalty and hustle. While others chase coins like gold diggers, Georgina keeps it real and proves some hearts can’t be bought. Respect where it’s due," somebody shared.
"The love story so amazing", another said, while a further shared: "She is one of the most notable partners of popular stars with no drama so far. Respect."
And another simply said: "Bro found a diamond in the rough."
Dan Seddon