Cristiano Ronaldo met the young Sporting Lisbon player after Saturday’s game with Getafe and it seems the two are now close pals. The story behind the tsunami survivor turned Sporting graduate is simply incredible, and his progression in Portugal’s top flight has been followed with huge interest.
As an eight-year-old boy, Martunis was found alive, stranded on a swampy area of beach, a full 21 days after a giant tsunami hit and devastated Aceh in Indonesia, in December 2004.
Martunis was swept away by the tsunami and somehow survived for 18 days on his own. He ate food such as pot noodles that had also been swept out to sea.
After 21 days the food had run out and Martunis was found and delivered to a Sky News journalist.
Besides his incredible story of survival, Martunis also hit the headlines in Portugal as he was wearing a number 10 shirt of Portuguese football legend Rui Costa during this whole ordeal.
His amazing story won over the hearts of many in Portugal, including Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo who was then playing for Manchester United, paid for the house where Martunis grew up to be rebuilt for his family following the devastating Tsunami.
The young player is currently a Sporting Lisbon player.