A YOUNG Cherries fan suffered a broken wrist after a free kick taken by Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo struck him.
Charlie Silverwood, 11, was sat behind the goal when he was hit by the ball, which broke his wrist in two places.
But despite the pain, the Christchurch youngster stayed on to see the remaining 84 minutes of the friendly between AFC Bournemouth and Real Madrid.
After the match he went to hospital, where X-rays revealed his double fracture.
To apologise for the injury, the Spanish side sent a signed shirt to Charlie, presented by Cherries legend Steve Fletcher.
He also got a ball signed by the Bournemouth team.
Charlie told a national newspaper: “It was very painful. I’ve told friends and they cannot believe it. Ronaldo is the world’s most expensive player — and he broke my arm.”
The youngster added: “I could see the ball coming towards me. It curled past the post and was going to hit my face — so I had to block it with my hand.
“My dad was sat next to me and ducked out of the way so I took the full force.” His father Lee, also a Bournemouth fan, said: “It all happened in a blur.
“One minute we were watching Ronaldo stand over the ball and the next it was flying towards Charlie. It must have been travelling at a rate of knots and hit Charlie right on the wrist.”
Ronaldo, 28, scored twice as the Spanish giants beat the Championship side 6-0 on Sunday night.
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