The Saviour: This is how Cristiano Ronaldo did to help his brother fight against addiction

Cristiano Ronaldo's senior brother Hugo Aveiro has the Real Madrid ace to thank in his fight against drug addiction

Cristiano Ronaldo's life is one associated with glamour and glitz away from his success on the football pitch. But for his older brother, life has taken a very different path.

Hugo Aveiro, 42, battled against drink and substance abuse and has Ronaldo to thank for paying for treatment to help overcome addiction.

'There's no doubt his money helped to save Hugo,' their mother Dolores was quoted as saying in the Daily Record in 2007. 'Things might have turned out a lot differently if Cristiano hadn't been a footballer.'

Hugo now works as manager for Ronaldo's museum in Madeira and was pictured flying out to Paris alongside his famous brother and family on Thursday, when Ronaldo was crowned Ballon d'Or winner.

There is a history of addiction in Ronaldo's family. He lost his father, Dinis, when he was 20.

'Cristiano has seen what drink and drugs can do to people close to him and it's part of the reason why he's become who he is today,' Dolores said.

READ MORE:  Ghanaian player hangs himself to death

'What happened to our family explains why Cristiano doesn't have vices. He doesn't smoke and doesn't drink. His addiction is football.

'Dinis drank himself into an early grave which left Cristiano devastated. Cristiano was very close to his dad.

'He would have loved him to still be around to see the player he is today. It's very sad.'

Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or for the fifth time in his career on Thursday.

'Another dream come true. Unbelievable feeling,' he wrote on Instagram.

'Thanks to my family, friends, teammates, coaches and everyone that stood by my side throughout the years.'

Credit: Dailymail

Cristiano Ronaldo's senior brother Hugo Aveiro has the Real Madrid ace to thank in his fight against drug addiction Read Full Story