Ronaldo 'paid surrogate to have baby': Portuguese media

Real Madrid and Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo paid a surrogate mother to have his baby according to Portuguese media reports.

The nine pound, eight ounce baby boy was conceived by a surrogate mother in San Diego where the football star was on holiday last year according to Diario de Noticias newspaper.

Ronaldo, who announced the arrival of the baby via social-networking sites Twitter and Facebook yesterday, is staying quiet over anything regarding his child.

"As agreed with the baby's mother, who prefers to have her identity kept confidential, my son will be under my exclusive guardianship", reads a post on Facebook.

"No further information will be provided on this subject and I request everyone to fully respect my right to privacy (and that of the child) at least on issues as personal as these are".

The newspaper also reports Ronaldo travelled to the Algarve to meet his son, who arrived during the tournament, immediately after Portugal were eliminated from the World Cup after a 1-0 loss to Spain last week.

Portuguese state television reports the child will be named Ronaldo Junior but the star's sister says his name will be revealed very soon.

Ronaldo's current girlfriend, Sports Illustrated swimwear model Irina Shayk wrote on her Facebook page: "My boyfriend is now the father of a boy".