Soccer star and self-proclaimed best player in the world Christiano Ronaldo added another tick to his extensive list of charitable acts. On Friday, he welcomed Haidar Mustafa, a three-year-old boy from Lebanon who survived suicide bomb attacks on Nov. 12 in Bourj al-Barajneh, a district in Beirut.
Mustafa lost both his parents in the Beirut Bombings, which occurred less than 24 hours prior to the attacks in Paris. The event has been called the worst terrorist attack in the Lebanese capital since the country's Civil War. The toddler was photographed in a hospital after the bombings wearing a Real Madrid shirt sporting the number seven on the back, Ronaldo's player number.
According to reports, a social media campaign was immediately launched by those moved by the photos of the orphaned Mustafa. Real Madrid also made every effort to get in touch with those who would help them arrange to have the little boy meet with his soccer idol.
On Nov. 17, Real Madrid announced on Twitter that the arrangements were made for Mustafa to make the trip to Spain.
Great News: Haidar got a phone call from Spain to arrange him a meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo #CristianoMeetHaidar
— RealMadridLebanon (@RealMadridLeb) November 17, 2015
Mustafa wore a white shirt with the number seven. But instead of Ronaldo's name, his first name "Haidar" was emblazoned on the back.
Although there were some tears from Mustafa upon meeting the soccer celebrity, the boy was mostly full of smiles as he was given the star treatment by Ronaldo as well as Florentino Perez, Real Madrid's President, who gave Mustafa a tour of the team's trophy room.
Haidar finally met Cristiano pic.twitter.com/FLGEe3rTAf
— RealMadridLebanon (@RealMadridLeb) December 18, 2015
This is not the first time Real Madrid has stepped up to help their fans who are most in need. In September, the team helped bring Usama Alabed Almohsen and his sons (the Syrian refugee who was infamously tripped by a Hungarian reporter) to Spain to offer him a new home and a job as a soccer coach.
Ronaldo also has a personal soft spot for helping those who are less fortunate. In August 2015, Ronaldo was named as the world's most charitable sports figure, having donated millions of dollars to various charities all over the world. It's not surprising that Ronaldo would also want to reach out to his youngest fans like Mustafa. In 2004, he flew to Indonesia after seeing footage of a survivor wearing a Portugal shirt with his name on it.
"My father always taught me that when you help other people, God will give you double. And that's what has really happened to me. When I have helped other people who are in need, God has helped me more," said Ronaldo of his charitable acts.
According to Real Madrid, while Mustafa is their guest in Spain, he will attend the Whites' match against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
