Cristiano Ronaldo’s former home in Lisbon soon up for rent

The apartment building has just undergone a renovation worth 14 million euros

The property website idealista announced that an apartment building in Lisbon, consisting of 34 apartments is in the process of being renovated and will add to the housing supply of the Portuguese capital, where the shortage is acutely felt. What’s remarkable about that building, however, is that back in 2001, it briefly served as the home of a young and upcoming football player by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The footballer, when he was just 16 years old, shared a room – number 34 – with his friend Miguel Paixão. They stayed in a pension called Residencial Dom José. The boys lived there while they trained at the Sporting Academy for young talents.

The influence of the international football star makes every place he has been associated with an immediate selling point and part of the local folklore.

Aimed at Lisbon residents, not tourists

If you’re looking to rent Ronaldo’s former apartment on your next visit to Lisbon, you might be up for disappointment. The developers have explained that the aim of refurbishing the building (to the tune of 14 million euros) was to contribute to filling the housing gap that has been plaguing the capital – a gap partially blamed on tourists with more disposable income.

The building at Duque de Loulé 79 is currently being renovated. Source: Google Maps

The building, located on Duque de Loulé 79 will be ready to welcome families and young professionals looking to settle there with a more mid-to-long-term horizon.

This building, for example, has no parking. The people we spoke to say that if you don't have parking it can't be rented to Portuguese people, but I don't believe that's the case,” explained Georges Matar, General Manager of the Cypriot company Immobilo Investments Ltd, responsible for managing the property.

He elaborated: “Many young professionals want to be in the centre (of the city), have their electric bike and be able to move around the city at a reasonable price. This is our idea, our philosophy in the residential market. We want to be in the 'core' in terms of population, location and prices. This is the strategy we have in mind”. 

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo recently received permission from the Lisbon City Council to refurbish his own current property, which is considered the most expensive apartment in the capital. The apartment, worth around 7.2 million euros, boasts some 288 square meters and is located opposite Eduardo VII Park - one of the most expensive residential areas of the city, and actually not far from the building subject of this article.

It has a spa, cinema room, indoor and outdoor swimming pool and a terrace from which you can see the Tagus River.