It is indeed most heartening, and indubitably heartwarming, to know that there are indeed some in that exclusive echelon of superstar celebrities who do not just retreat into their ivory towers of spendour and regale themselves with the indulgent trappings of luxury and affluence while the world around them just outside of their high-walled bastions are in dire need of immediate assistance and relief, desperately trying in near futility to fend off the sledgehammer blows of the debilitating cornoravirus pandemic that is rapidly devastating all in its path of destruction.
Some of football’s most iconic superstars have stepped forward in a humanitarian gesture to lend a much-needed hand to help ameliorate the plight of those in urgent need, being eviscerated daily in this pandemic of global proportions.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two of football’s most glittering mega stars who to many are accorded almost deified stature, have for the better part of more than a decade been pitted against one another in gladiatorial combat on the pitch in a fierce, riveting rivalry to establish who is predominant and supreme with the duo frequently squaring off against each other during the annual awards season.
This time, however, both these larger-than-life mega stars have joined hands like a WWE tag team on the global arena to take on a new, mutual foe that is driving fear and despair into the hearts and lives of many – the covid-19 coronavirus pandemic that has not only shackled Mankind but brought death in its wake.
Reports from Spain and Argentina have disclosed that both these superstars have made donations to fight the spread of the covid-19 virus in their respective home countries and also in Spain. Needless to say, both donations will come in most handy. Of even greater significance is the fact that this gesture would be taken as a shining, selfless example that other athletes in the arena of sports would follow globally.
According to Diario As, Messi has donated more than million dollars to two hospitals, one in Barcelona and and the other one in Argentina, where the donations will surely be most appreciated, needless to say. In Catalunya itself, 282 mortalities have been recorded and more than 8,000 are confirmed to have contracted the disease. Meanwhile, in Argentina, authorities have confirmed six deaths and 306 coronavirus cases.
On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes stepped up to give a hand in Portugal to provide a different, albeit equally invaluable, kind of assistance to two different hospitals. They donated all the equipment needed to set up a couple of intensive care units at Santa María de Lisboa hospital with 10 beds, breathing devices and heart monitors for each intensive care unit.
In addition, the Portuguese duo also donated fifteen intensive care beds and state-of-the-art technology to San Antonio Hospital in Porto in a gracious gesture and concerned effort to help combat the virus. Understandably, in acknowledgment, the hospital was effusive in thanking Ronaldo and his agent via a press release, besides stating that the intensive care units donated by the football icon and his agent will be named after them.
“We want to thank Ronaldo and Mendes for their useful initiative, especially at a time in which our country needs everyone to contribute,” the press release read.
To date since the start of the outbreak, Portuguese authorities have confirmed over 2,300 coronavirus cases with 30 deaths.