Save the Children announced that reports of Cristiano Ronaldo donated nearly $8 million to its earthquake relief efforts in Nepal are false.

Save the Children announced Thursday that reports of Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo donated nearly $8 million to its earthquake relief efforts in Nepal are false.

French soccer magazine So Footreported earlier this week that Ronaldo donated €7 million ($7.8 million) to the charity after asking his Facebook followers to give.

Save the Children released the following on Thursday:

"The global ambassador for Save the Children, Cristiano Ronaldo, has used his voice and his global visibility to raise awareness of the problems that the most vulnerable children around the world, including those affected by the earthquake in Nepal face. The latest information on the donation of Cristiano Ronaldo to the emergency response of Save the Children in Nepal is false. After the second earthquake, which has brought further devastation to the country, the NGO wants to thank Cristiano Ronaldo and other influential people support to publicize the situation in which children and families in Nepal are."

Nepal was devastated by last month's 7.8-magnitude earthquake. More than 8,000 people were killed by the quake and ensuing aftershocks. Relief efforts are being hindered by Nepal's mountainous terrain, as crews are forced to use helicopters to reach remote villages. The Nepalese government has been overwhelmed by the magnitude of foreign aid, Reuters reports, with the delivery of supplies held up by customs inspections.

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In 2012, Ronaldo donated $1.7 million to children in the Gaza strip. As a 2014 Los Angeles Times article on Ronaldo's charitable endeavors points out, he has also paid for multiple children's medical procedures and helped raise money to fund tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia in 2004.

Donation's to Save the Children's earthquake relief fund can be made here.

- Dan Gartland