Granddaughter Fulfills Childhood Promise And Surprises Grandpa With World Cup Tickets

A proud granddaughter fulfilled a childhood promise by surprising her grandfather with tickets to see the World Cup – and his favorite player, Cristiano Ronaldo. When Alexandra Canedo, 26, was growing up, her grandfather, Oscar Rodríguez, 67, acted more like a father figure and fostered her love of soccer. Even though she admits she's not great at playing the game, Oscar's influence meant that Alexandra, from Houston, Texas, later traveled overseas to watch professional soccer after high school. But Oscar has always been private and rarely travels, Alexandra said, so she kept in the back of her mind a promise she had made to him many times as a child, that she would take him to see the World Cup one day. With Houston hosting games during this year's tournament, Alexandra thought she would not get a better opportunity. Her grandfather's favorite player is Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, and with Portugal playing a game against DR Congo in Houston, Alexandra purchased tickets. Then, on April 18, Alexandra decided to surprise her grandfather on her sister's birthday, so that he would not suspect a thing. She arrived in a raincoat, which she then took off to reveal a Ronaldo jersey she was wearing. Alexandra asked her grandfather if he liked it, and when she received a yes, she encouraged him to look in a gift bag she presented to him, which contained a Ronadlo jersey for Oscar, too, and broke the news that they would be going to a game. Oscar is a man of few words, Alexandra said, but when presented with the gift a smile beamed across his face and he had a tear in his eye, affirming the significance of Alexandra’s gesture.

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