CRISTIANO RONALDO has been released by Portugal to celebrate the birth of his twins.

Earlier this month, reports in Portugal backed up The Sun's exclusive revelation that the superstar was due to have children via a surrogate mother.

6 Ronaldo is dating Christina Rodriguez and is already a dad to Cristiano Ronaldo Jr Credit: Rex Features

6 Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed the news on Facebook Credit: Getty Images

But there had been no official confirmation until Ronaldo, 32, was allowed to leave the Confederations Cup following a semi-final exit to Chile.

He confirmed on Facebook: “I was with the national team, giving my everything as always, despite knowing my children had been born.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t reach our main sporting objective, but I am certain we will continue to make the Portuguese people happy.

“The president of the Portuguese Football Federation and the national team manager were considerate towards me and it is something which I will never forget.

“I am very happy to finally be with my children for the first time.”

An official statement said: “The president of the Portuguese Football Association and the manager were informed before the Confederations Cup that the national captain Cristiano Ronaldo had become a father.

6 Ronaldo saw Portugal lose out in the Confederations Cup semi-finals Credit: EPA

“The player, despite knowing about the birth of his children, decided to stay with the national team, which is a gesture we want to highlight.

“The President of the Portuguese Football Association and the manager understand that, having failed to win the Confederations Cup, we had to release the player so that he could finally go and meet his children.”

Portuguese TV channel SIC reports he had a boy and girl named Eva and Mateo via a mother on the west coast of America.

Supermodel Tyra Banks, TV host Jimmy Fallon and actress Sarah Jessica Parker are among the celebs that have had surrogate children.

Ronaldo is already a father to Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, known as Cristianinho, who is now seven.

What is surrogacy? Surrogacy is when a woman carries and gives birth to another person’s baby. This is often an option for those unable to have children themselves, or for same sex couples. According to surrogacy charity Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy (COTS), there are two different types of surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy: When the surrogate uses her own egg fertilised with the intended father’s sperm.

Gestational surrogacy: The surrogate carries the intended parent’s genetic child conceived through IVF, for which specialist doctors are needed.

6 Ronaldo's family is growing with reports suggesting a fourth child could be on the way Credit: Getty Images

6 Ronaldo celebrates winning the Champions League with mum Dolores Aveiro and Christina Rodriguez Credit: Reuters

He is dating Georgina Rodriguez and could be set to be a dad again with the model reportedly five months pregnant.

Earlier this week the Spanish beauty was pictured with a tummy bump while enjoying a stroll with Ronaldo.

6 Ronaldo sparked fresh pregnancy rumours when he posted a picture of himself holding Rodriguez's tummy on the sofa in May Credit: @cristiano/Instagram

And it has been suggested the couple may be planning a ‘super baby’ after reportedly visiting a clinic which does DNA tests to check the make-up of a possible child.

The best Portugal can hope for without their skipper is a third-place finish after a heartbreaking defeat.

How are surrogate babies conceived? In traditional surrogacy procedures, the egg is artificially inseminated using a syringe. Gestational surrogacy is carried out through IVF. During this in vitro fertilisation process, the egg is removed from the woman’s ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The embryo is then planted in the surrogate’s womb to grow and develop. This procedure must be carried out by specialist doctors and the biological mother is required to still have working ovaries.

A 0-0 draw - in which Chile were denied a penalty and hit the woodwork twice in extra-time - resulted in a 3-0 shootout win, with Ronaldo not taking a spot-kick.

Manchester City stopper Claudio Bravo denied efforts from Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho and Nani.

It has been a busy few weeks for Ronaldo, who was accused of tax fraud in Spain and linked with a move to Manchester United.

Real supremo Florentino Perez admitted his star man was angry but insists he expects him to stay in the Spanish capital.

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