Ronaldo de Jesús

Ronaldo de Jesús
Personal information
Full name	Ronaldo Nawel de Jesús López
Date of birth	21 April 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	San Patricio, Paraguay
Height	1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Lanús
Number	35
Senior career*
Years	Team
2023–2024	Cerro Porteño
2025–	Lanús
International career‡
2024–	Paraguay U23
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:25, 25 January 2025 (UTC); ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:43, 3 October 2024 (UTC)

Ronaldo Nawel de Jesús López (born 21 April 2001) is a Paraguayan footballer who plays as a defender for Argentine Primera División club Lanús.

Club career

Youth career

Born in San Patricio in the Misiones Departament, De Jesús was given his first name by his father, who idolised the Brazilian footballer Ronaldo. De Jesús began playing in his local football school before moving on to Libertad San Patricio and then Cerro Porteño at age 16. He had unsuccessfully trialled at Club Libertad and Club Olimpia, and was only permitted to join Cerro by his parents if he continued studying, in his case a course in sports sciences.^[1]

Cerro Porteño

On 6 April 2023, De Jesús made his debut in the Copa Libertadores in a 2–1 home win over Barcelona S.C. of Ecuador, playing the last nine minutes as a substitute for Federico Carrizo.^[2] He scored his first goal on 1 October in the Paraguayan Primera División; in a team starting with two academy players at full back due to shortages, he scored the added-time winner in a 3–2 home win over Sportivo Ameliano.^[3] Six days later, he scored again in added time, this time the equaliser in a 1–1 draw at Club General Caballero JLM in the 12th minute added on.^[4]

Lanús

On 15 January 2025, De Jesús joined Argentine Primera División side Lanús on a three-year contract. The club had wanted to bring him in on loan, which was rejected, and purchased 50% of his economic rights. He arrived to replace Abel Luciatti, who had moved in the opposite direction to Cerro Porteño.^[5] He made his debut eight days later in a 2–0 loss at home to Deportivo Riestra, as a substitute for the final eight minutes.^[6]

International career

De Jesús played all seven games for the Paraguay national under-23 football team as they won the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament in Venezuela, and scored in a 4–3 comeback win over Uruguay in the group stage. Upon his return to Asunción, he burst into tears when reunited with his mother, in a photograph that went viral in Paraguay.^[7] He was chosen for the 2024 Olympic tournament in France.^[8]

References

^ "El padre de Ronaldo Dejesús: "Fue a probar a Olimpia y Libertad, pero no le dieron importancia"" [Ronaldo De Jesús's father: "He went to trial at Olimpia and Libertad, but they didn't see him as important"]. ABC Color (in Spanish). 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
^ "Ronaldo de Jesús debutó en Cerro Porteño: "Todo el día oraba y ayer se dio" expresó emocionada su madre" [Ronaldo de Jesús debuted for Cerro Porteño: "He was praying all day and yesterday it happened" expressed his moved mother]. La Unión (in Spanish). 6 April 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
^ "Ronaldo De Jesús: "Seguramente mi mamá estará llorando y mi papá..."" [Ronaldo de Jesús: "Surely my mother will be crying and my father..."] (in Spanish). Versus. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
^ "¿Por qué se jugaron más de 100 minutos en Mallorquín?" [Why did they play over 100 minutes in Mallorquín?] (in Spanish). Versus. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
^ "Ronaldo De Jesús, tercer refuerzo de Lanús" [Ronaldo de Jesús, third addition to Lanús] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
^ "Luego del golpe en el flojo debut de Pellegrino, Lanús ya piensa en Rosario Central" [After the blow on Pellegrino's weak debut, Lanús are already thinking about Rosario Central] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
^ "La emotiva foto de Ronaldo Dejesús en el regreso a Asunción" [The moving photo of Ronaldo de Jesús on his return to Asunción]. ABC Color (in Spanish). 13 February 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
^ "¡Vamos, Paraguay! La Albirroja tiene equipo confirmado para el debut en París 2024" [Go, Paraguay! The Red and Whites have a team confirmed for the start of Paris 2024]. La Nación (Paraguay) (in Spanish). 24 July 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

External links

Ronaldo de Jesús at Soccerway

[1] "El padre de Ronaldo Dejesús: "Fue a probar a Olimpia y Libertad, pero no le dieron importancia"" [Ronaldo De Jesús's father: "He went to trial at Olimpia and Libertad, but they didn't see him as important"]. ABC Color (in Spanish). 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

[2] "Ronaldo de Jesús debutó en Cerro Porteño: "Todo el día oraba y ayer se dio" expresó emocionada su madre" [Ronaldo de Jesús debuted for Cerro Porteño: "He was praying all day and yesterday it happened" expressed his moved mother]. La Unión (in Spanish). 6 April 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

[3] "Ronaldo De Jesús: "Seguramente mi mamá estará llorando y mi papá..."" [Ronaldo de Jesús: "Surely my mother will be crying and my father..."] (in Spanish). Versus. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

[4] "¿Por qué se jugaron más de 100 minutos en Mallorquín?" [Why did they play over 100 minutes in Mallorquín?] (in Spanish). Versus. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

[5] "Ronaldo De Jesús, tercer refuerzo de Lanús" [Ronaldo de Jesús, third addition to Lanús] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.

[6] "Luego del golpe en el flojo debut de Pellegrino, Lanús ya piensa en Rosario Central" [After the blow on Pellegrino's weak debut, Lanús are already thinking about Rosario Central] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.

[7] "La emotiva foto de Ronaldo Dejesús en el regreso a Asunción" [The moving photo of Ronaldo de Jesús on his return to Asunción]. ABC Color (in Spanish). 13 February 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

[8] "¡Vamos, Paraguay! La Albirroja tiene equipo confirmado para el debut en París 2024" [Go, Paraguay! The Red and Whites have a team confirmed for the start of Paris 2024]. La Nación (Paraguay) (in Spanish). 24 July 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]