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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Nathan Ridley

Cristiano Ronaldo's classy gesture to help raise money for La Palma volcano victims

Cristiano Ronaldo has shown his kind nature by donating a signed Portugal shirt to help raise money for victims of a volcanic eruption which ravaged the Spanish island of La Palma.

The Manchester United superstar will auction off the No.7 jersey and provide funds to aid the 7,000 people who have been forced to leave their homes in the aftermath.

2,910 buildings were destroyed following Mount Cumbre Vieja's eruption, which began in September and has continued throughout December.

Lava has burnt its way across huge swathes of land on the western side of La Palma.

Ronaldo's gesture, like the charity Santa run in Madrid which took place on Sunday, will offer some aid to victims, as football fans will be able to bid for the 36-year-old's shirt on Christmas Eve until January 3.

Ronaldo has donated a shirt to raise money for families from La Palma (@javiro_ser / Twitter)

The cash received for the shirt, which has a message of support written on the back of it, will go directly to the families affected by the volcano, as reported by Javi Rodriguez of Cadena SER and Radio Club Tenerife.

Ronaldo wrote: "Not even the force of a volcano will be able to with La Palma. All my support for the beautiful island."

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's last appearance for his country came in November, as Serbia stunningly beat Portugal in the dying embers.

It means Fernando Santos ' star-studded side, containing the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Jota and Bernardo Silva, will have to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup via the play-offs.

Os Navegadores will face Turkey at home on Thursday, March 24 and if Santo and co come out on top, they will play either European champions Italy or the un-fancied North Macedonia five days later in a play-off final.

Ronaldo and his national team manager were at odds following the aforementioned defeat to Serbia, with the Red Devils forward shouting and gesticulating furiously when Santos approached him after full-time.

But the 67-year-old, who famously led Portugal to the Euro 2016 title, dismissed claims of a rift and will hope his star man can perform when Turkey come to Lisbon.

Have your say! Will Portugal make it to the World Cup? Give us your prediction here.

Mount Cumbre Vieja erupted earlier this year, forcing 7,000 people from their homes (AFP via Getty Images)

"Nobody was explaining anything," Santos affirmed. "He was telling the other guy that there [in Serbia] he had scored a goal at the last minute and that the referee didn't count [it].

"That's what he was saying at the time. On the field, he said that we scored a goal there and the referee didn't, but it's his outburst - it's perfectly normal.

"Now no one goes after a game to explain what happened or didn't happen. I went to raise the players' heads."

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