Cristiano Ronaldo's recent Father's Day photograph with his eldest son has drawn attention for an unexpected detail: his black-painted toenails.
The 40-year-old Portuguese star shared the gym photo on Instagram to his 657 million followers, showing off impressive physique with Cristiano Jr ahead of the teenager's 15th birthday on June 17.
Eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed Ronaldo's jet black toenail on his left foot in the image, with one questioning: "Is no one going to talk about the black painted nails?"
The unusual sight sparked curiosity across social media, though there's a practical explanation behind the choice.
According to German publication Bild, athletes paint their nails to create a protective barrier against fungi and bacteria that thrive in the sweaty conditions of sports footwear.
A source told the outlet: "Many top athletes do this to protect their nails from fungi and bacteria when they are stuck in sweaty shoes for hours. Even Mike Tyson."
The polish serves a dual purpose - it hardens the toenails whilst forming a protective coating that prevents cracking.
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Mike Tyson are some of the superstars that have used the method
Reuters
This technique has become particularly common amongst track athletes, boxers and mixed martial arts fighters who spend extended periods training in enclosed footwear.
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has also adopted the practice, demonstrating its widespread use across combat sports.
For footballers like Ronaldo, who spend countless hours in boots during training and matches, the protective benefits are particularly valuable.
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Ronaldo, who is not participating in the ongoing Club World Cup in Florida, recently confirmed his plans to remain at Saudi side Al-Nassr after he guided Portugal to their second Nations League title.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has the record for the most amount of international appearances and goals, won his third trophy with the national team earlier this month.
The former Manchester United forward scored eight goals in nine Nations League games, including a crucial equaliser in the final, to propel his nation to further glory.
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Cristiano Ronaldo lifted his third international trophy earlier this month
Reuters
International success runs in the family, too, with his son Cristiano Jr being called up to the national team for the first time last month.
Cristiano Jr, also known as Cristianinho, followed in his father's footsteps by scoring an impressive brace for Portugal's youth team against Croatia in May.
Ronaldo has insisted it is a dream to play alongside his son in some capacity in a professional game.
With his goalscoring showing no signs of slowing and Cristianinho also playing in the Al-Nassr youth set up, the pair linking up on the pitch seems to be a very real possibility.
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