FIFA World Cup 2018: Ronaldo's love affair with Morocco revealed

Cristiano Ronaldo has fallen under the charm of Morocco, and the feeling is mutual with the Portugal and Real Madrid star adored by millions of fans from the North African kingdom.

There may be no statue yet honouring Ronaldo, who led Portugal against Morocco in the World Cup on Wednesday, as there is in his hometown of Funchal, but he will soon have a hotel in his name.

Photo: AFP

Ronaldo's love affair with Morocco began in Marrakech in December 2014 at the Club World Cup which Real competed in after winning their 10th Champions League title.

For the first time Ronaldo experienced at first hand his popularity from a country where divided loyalties over Real Madrid and Barcelona can split families in two.

Photo: AFP

Ronaldo was "enchanted by "an exceptional quality of life that he hadn't come across before, and that was so close to where he lived too", someone close to the player said.

'CR7' was hooked, and returned the following year, catching up with his Dutch-Moroccan friend, kickboxer Badr Hari.

Photo: AFP

Ronaldo has a 50-percent stake in the Portuguese hotel chain Pestana through his own 'CR7 brand, and he announced in January he would be opening his fifth hotel in Marrakech.

He already has branches in Funchal and Lisbon in Portugal-- not surprisingly the rooms feature dozens of photographs of the player, his shirts and momentoes of his career.

Photo: AFP

According to the reports, whenever he has free time Ronaldo takes a private jet from the Torrejon de Ardoz airport beside Real's training ground to return to the country he loves -- and top up his perma-tan.

Even his beloved mum Dolores has fallen under Morocco's spell, judging by photos posted on Instagram of her in front of a plate of couscous, or visiting Jemaa El-Fnaa square in Marrakech where tourists can pick up replica shirts of her son.

Photo: AFP