Cristiano Ronaldo has never been shy about sharing his life with millions of fans — from triumphant moments on the pitch to intimate glimpses of family life. But when the 39-year-old football icon confirmed he’s officially engaged to his long-term partner Georgina Rodríguez, the internet erupted in a way even he might not have expected. Within minutes of the announcement, one phrase began to dominate comment sections on Instagram, Twitter, and fan forums worldwide: “Finally.”

The Portuguese superstar, whose career has taken him from Manchester United to Real Madrid and now Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, shared the news in a joint post with Georgina on their respective Instagram pages. The image — a close-up of Georgina’s diamond ring as the couple embraced on a sunlit balcony — was paired with a simple caption: “Forever 💍❤️.” Within the first hour, the post had been liked over 10 million times, according to BBC Sport.

For fans, the engagement announcement felt like the culmination of a relationship they’ve been following since the pair met in 2016, when Georgina was working at a Gucci store in Madrid. Over the years, they’ve weathered the spotlight’s intense scrutiny, shared the joys of raising their children, and stood together through personal tragedies — including the heartbreaking loss of their newborn son in 2022, which Ronaldo publicly addressed in a moving interview with Piers Morgan.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez are engaged! The ring is worth millions. Congrats to the happy couple ❤️💍— Football World (@FutbolWorld_) August 9, 2025

While the ring itself is estimated by Vogue to be worth around $750,000, it was the symbolism that struck a chord. Thousands of fans left comments echoing the same sentiment: that it was “about time” the couple, who already share two children and co-parent Ronaldo’s three older kids, made their relationship official. One popular fan account on Reddit summed it up with the post title: “Seven years, four kids, one legend — and now a ring.”

Georgina, 31, has built her own public profile in recent years, starring in the hit Netflix docuseries “I Am Georgina” and collaborating with high-fashion brands. In the series, she often spoke about the deep bond she shares with Ronaldo, describing him as “my partner in life, my best friend, and the father I dreamed for my children.” The engagement news, she wrote in an Instagram Story reposted by Elle, was “the happiest day of my life.”