Ronaldo reaches out to young Venezuelan quake survivor

Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a message to Andres Mieles, a young survivor of Venezuela’s June 24 earthquake who is recovering in hospital after doctors amputated his leg, Al Jazeera reported. The gesture drew attention because Mieles, who was orphaned in the disaster, had asked for a Ronaldo trading card to lift his spirits during treatment.

According to Al Jazeera, Mieles made the request while he was in hospital after the earthquake. The report said the boy wanted the card as a source of encouragement as he recovered from his injuries.

Ronaldo, one of the world’s most recognizable footballers, responded by sending Mieles a message, Al Jazeera reported. The report did not provide the wording of the message or further details about how it was delivered.

The June 24 disaster left Mieles without his parents, according to Al Jazeera. The report did not give additional information on the earthquake’s location, death toll or the wider scale of damage.

Mieles’ story has been presented as a human moment after the disaster: a child facing severe injury and loss, asking for a small football keepsake, and receiving a direct response from the player he admires.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.