CR7 and 9 other football stars you probably didn’t know have African roots

J-League, a very different football experience

ON April 25 2025, Yokohoma Marinos, a club that forms part of the City Football Group’s multi-club model, will host Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia in the last eight of the AFC Champions League Elite. The attraction is, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo, the 40 year-old veteran who is playing out his days in the Middle East. The mere presence of CR7 will surely attract a big crowd to the Nissan Stadium where Marinos play. But it hasn’t been a good season fo…

CR7 and 9 other football stars you probably didn’t know have African roots

Football is a global sport rich in diversity. Many players with African roots have made a massive impact on the game. Legends like Zinedine Zidane and Patrice Evra, along with modern stars like Vinícius Júnior and Cristiano Ronaldo, show how Africa’s heritage has helped shape football greatness. Cristiano Ronaldo It might surprise many to learn that Cristiano Ronaldo has African ancestry. His maternal family roots trace back to Cape Verde, a gro…