The FC Augsburg has signed the Portuguese U21 international Rodrigo Ribeiro (21) from Sporting Lissabon. The young striker was already on loan in the Fuggerstadt in the winter, played 14 league games (2 goals) and left a great impression. The FCA bosses around Managing Director Michael Ströll (42) and Sports Director Benjamin Weber (43) see great potential in the young Portuguese. Therefore, the FC Augsburg has now exercised the option to buy for 5 million euros. The superstar is the big idol of Ribeiro. This was revealed by the young Portuguese in an interview at the training camp in Achenkirch, Austria, on Monday: „Yes, of course! I think for most Portuguese and especially for young players, Ronaldo is an idol.“ More so: The striker is particularly committed to regeneration with Ronaldo effects. Specifically, it is about regeneration tools from „Advanced Recovery for Athletes by CR7“, with which the legend cooperates. Ribeiro explains: „I use compression socks with infrared therapy: They promote blood flow and help muscles recover faster after training or games. That helps me a lot.“ The regeneration tricks are meant to support him after exertion to quickly regain strength to give full gas on the pitch. Ribeiro, who has signed a contract with the FCA until 2031, dreams of a big career in the Portuguese national team – like his idol. „I wish I could play for the A-Nationalmannschaft von Portugal one day. But now I have to work hard.“ He is already on a good way. Like Ronaldo, Ribeiro has already played for all U-Nationalmannschaften in the past. For the A-Nationalmannschaft, he has not yet been used. Whether he will play with Ronaldo again is questionable. Ribeiro is supported by his family and his girlfriend Debora Gomes. The model is close to him, has 721,000 followers on Instagram and more than twice as many as the entire FCA (311,000). Regularly, the influencer shares insights into her life with her fans. Among the posts are photos of joint outings, holidays, and videos with her dog. They recently enjoyed a joint break on the Maldives during the World Cup. Ribeiro says: „I am very happy to have my girlfriend and my dog, and above all, I find it also important. I have generally full support from my family. And for us football players, it is important to be happy and satisfied privately. Because these are factors that simplify our performance on the field.“ This should also help him for the next tasks with the FCA. Ribeiro prefers to play in the center of the attack, but he can also be used on the wings. „I could also be used as a winger. I leave the decision to the coach and in the end, we only give our best.“ Ribeiro is currently on the way to qualify for the A-Nationalmannschaft von Portugal. Like Ronaldo, he has already played for all U-Nationalmannschaften in the past. For the A-Nationalmannschaft, he has not yet been used. Whether he will play with Ronaldo again is questionable. The FC Augsburg is currently in 9th place in the Bundesliga, with 43 points from 34 games. In the current season, the club has scored 45 goals and conceded 61 goals. The FC Augsburg must still catch up 46 points with the leaders Bayern München. The next FCA game is on August 30, 2026, against FC Schalke 04.