Ronaldo wins pay-out over nightclub 'bender' slur

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo accepted “substantial” libel damages today over a false allegation that he went on a “bender” at a Hollywood nightclub.

Ronaldo, who does not drink alcohol, also received an apology at the High Court in London over claims published in the Daily Mirror in July last year.

His QC, Ronald Thwaites, told Mr Justice Eady that the newspaper reported that, despite being in recovery from an ankle operation as a result of which he was on crutches, he had “gone on a bender” in Los Angeles.

In a statement issued through his solicitor, Ronaldo said: “I am delighted with this outcome.

“I take training and recovery from injury very seriously and would never have ’gone on a bender’ and danced in a nightclub without my crutches as the Mirror falsely claimed.”