Ronaldo de Jesús

Ronaldo de Jesús
Personal information
Full name Ronaldo Nawel de Jesús López
Date of birth (2001-04-21) 21 April 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth San Patricio, Paraguay
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Cerro Porteño
Number 35
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Cerro Porteño 27 (4)
International career‡
2024– Paraguay U23 11 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:43, 3 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:43, 3 October 2024 (UTC)

Ronaldo Nawel de Jesús López (born 1 October 2004) is a Paraguayan footballer who plays as a defender for Cerro Porteño.

Club career

Born in San Patricio in the Misiones Departament, De Jesús was given his first name by his father, who idolised the Brazilian footballer Ronaldo. De Jesús began playing in his local football school before moving on to Libertad San Patricio and then Cerro Porteño at age 16. He had unsuccessfully trialled at Club Libertad and Club Olimpia, and was only permitted to join Cerro by his parents if he continued studying, in his case a course in sports sciences.[1]

On 6 April 2023, De Jesús made his debut in the Copa Libertadores in a 2–1 home win over Barcelona S.C. of Ecuador, playing the last nine minutes as a substitute for Federico Carrizo.[2] He scored his first goal on 1 October in the Paraguayan Primera División; in a team starting with two academy players at full back due to shortages, he scored the added-time winner in a 3–2 home win over Sportivo Ameliano.[3] Six days later, he scored again in added time, this time the equaliser in a 1–1 draw at Club General Caballero JLM in the 12th minute added on.[4]

International career

De Jesús played all seven games for the Paraguay national under-23 football team as they won the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament in Venezuela, and scored in a 4–3 comeback win over Uruguay in the group stage. Upon his return to Asunción, he burst into tears when reunited with his mother, in a photograph that went viral in Paraguay.[5] He was chosen for the 2024 Olympic tournament in France.[6]

References

  1. ^ "El padre de Ronaldo Dejesús: "Fue a probar a Olimpia y Libertad, pero no le dieron importancia"" [Ronaldo De Jesús's father: "He went to trial at Olimpia and Libertad, but they didn't see him as important"]. ABC Color (in Spanish). 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Ronaldo de Jesús debutó en Cerro Porteño: "Todo el día oraba y ayer se dio" expresó emocionada su madre" [Ronaldo de Jesús debuted for Cerro Porteño: "He was praying all day and yesterday it happened" expressed his moved mother]. La Unión (in Spanish). 6 April 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Ronaldo De Jesús: "Seguramente mi mamá estará llorando y mi papá..."" [Ronaldo de Jesús: "Surely my mother will be crying and my father..."] (in Spanish). Versus. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  4. ^ "¿Por qué se jugaron más de 100 minutos en Mallorquín?" [Why did they play over 100 minutes in Mallorquín?] (in Spanish). Versus. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  5. ^ "La emotiva foto de Ronaldo Dejesús en el regreso a Asunción" [The moving photo of Ronaldo de Jesús on his return to Asunción]. ABC Color (in Spanish). 13 February 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  6. ^ "¡Vamos, Paraguay! La Albirroja tiene equipo confirmado para el debut en París 2024" [Go, Paraguay! The Red and Whites have a team confirmed for the start of Paris 2024]. La Nación (Paraguay) (in Spanish). 24 July 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.