Cristiano Ronaldo first date with Hollyoaks star involved tea and Only Fools & Horses

Cristiano Ronaldo has dated a number of stunning high-profile models and actresses since becoming one of the biggest athletes on the planet.

One in particular which may come as a surprise was Hollyoaks’ very own Gemma Atkinson, 37, who once had a brief fling with the Manchester United talisman.

Ronaldo, 37, is now in a long-term relationship with Georgina Rodriguez while Atkinson is happily engaged to Strictly Come Dancing dancer Gorka Marquez – but things were very different back in 2007.

Their unlikely meeting came just after the actress left her role on Hollyoaks, where she had played the role of Lisa Hunter.

And the pair’s first date was a hilariously British occasion as the now-legendary Portuguese captain enjoyed a low-key evening.

Rather than using his wealth and standing to set-up a lavish date, Ronaldo was content to sit back and watch Only Fools and Horses with some tea, according to Atkinson.

Atkinson said: “We went to my house and drank cups of tea and watched Only Fools and Horses. Genuinely.”

She summarised sarcastically: “It was really, really glamorous.”

The beloved British sitcom, which originally ran from 1981 to 1991, is set in Peckham and follows Del Boy and his younger brother Rodney as they try to get rich, often making “fools” of themselves in the process.

Atkinson, who also went on to appear on soaps like Casualty (2011-12) and Emmerdale (2015-17), claimed the former Real Madrid superstar was a fan.

She said: “I don’t know if he’s into it now but he seemed to enjoy it.

“Only Fools and Horses and cups of tea, he seemed to enjoy it then but I’m going back about six/seven years.”

Gemma had previously turned down big money deals to reveal all about their brief romance, but in 2010 she said: “With Cristiano it was mad, because everywhere he went he was followed by photographers.

“When we did split up I got offered so much money to speak about him and I didn’t want that.”