June 18, 2025 - Cristiano Ronaldo has shared "shirtless" pictures many times. After seeing them, many of his fans have also started posting similar photos. It has reached a point where, when someone sees a photo of a muscular body, they say, “Hey, that looks like Ronaldo!” 

The Portuguese legend has actually turned these kinds of pictures into his personal brand. But the real reason behind them has never been clearly explained.

So, what kind of picture are we talking about?

You have probably seen it already - it’s the one with this article. In the photo, Ronaldo is standing in his gym without a shirt. He brings both hands slightly forward to show off the muscles in his body. The lines of his abdominal muscles are clearly visible. This has become his "trademark’" pose to show the world that he is still incredibly fit, even at the age of 40.

Trademark Photo

For the past few years, Ronaldo’s eldest son, Cristiano Jr., has been joining his father in the famous "trademark" photo. In this picture, both father and son pose together in the gym, showing off their muscular bodies. Ronaldo often shares such pictures on his social media, and with over 1 billion followers, the whole world sees them.

On June 15, the Al Nassr star posted one such photo on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. The caption was in Portuguese: “Tal pai tal filho”, which means “Like father, like son.”

Cristiano Jr. Follows in Father’s Footsteps

Cristiano Jr., who turned 15 on June 17, is already making headlines in football. According to Transfermarkt, he scored on his debut for the Portugal Under-15 team. Like his father, he is passionate about scoring goals and takes his fitness very seriously. Just like Ronaldo, he works hard to build and maintain his body.

You might think there’s nothing new here - the world sees such father-son moments all the time. But this time, there’s something different, something you might not have noticed at first.

Did You Spot the Black Toenails?

If you look closely at the photo, you’ll see black spots on Ronaldo’s toenails. Yes, he’s wearing black nail polish on his toes. But why would a top footballer paint his toenails?

For Performance, Not Just Fashion

Though Ronaldo is known for his fashion sense, this nail polish has nothing to do with style. It actually helps him perform better on the field.

According to The Athletic, Ronaldo has been seen with black nail polish on his toenails before - during vacations or while taking saunas. But the reason behind this is practical and linked to athlete care.

A Trend Among Professional Athletes

Many athletes, especially in mixed martial arts (MMA), have started painting their toenails black. Because it makes the nails stronger and prevents them from breaking or cracking during tough physical activity. Footballers often suffer nail damage due to pressure from tight boots and rough tackles. Nail polish helps protect against this.

Extra Protection Against Bacteria

There’s another reason too. Black nail polish can protect toenails from harmful bacteria. Athletes wear boots for long periods, causing sweat and moisture buildup. This creates a perfect environment for bacterial and fungal infections.

Expert Opinion on Foot Health

Dr Helen Branthwaite, a spokesperson for Britain’s Royal College of Podiatry (RCPOD), explained, “There are more than 250,000 sweat glands in the feet. On average, a person’s feet produce about a pint of sweat a day. Fungal infections of the toenails often start on the skin and then spread to the nails. If left untreated, they can get worse.”

While not all experts agree on nail polish as a guaranteed solution, many athletes believe it helps. Dr Branthwaite added that some varnishes are specially made to fight fungal infections, but the best protection is still good foot hygiene.