Ronaldo Dejesús

{{Infobox football biography

|embed =

|name = Ronaldo De Jesús

|image =

|upright =

|alt =

|caption =

|full_name = Ronaldo Nawel De Jesús López

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|04|21|df=yes}}

|birth_place = San Patricio, Paraguay

|height = 1.92 m

|position = Central Defender

|currentclub = Lanús

|clubnumber = 35

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 =

|years1 = 2023–2024

|clubs1 = Cerro Porteño

|caps1 = 34

|goals1 = 4

|years2 = 2025–

|clubs2 = Lanús

|caps2 = 9

|goals2 = 0

|nationalyears1 = 2024–

|nationalteam1 = Paraguay U23

|nationalcaps1 = 11

|nationalgoals1 = 1

|medaltemplates =

|club-update = 19:25, 25 January 2025 (UTC)

|nationalteam-update = 12:43, 3 October 2024 (UTC)

}}

Ronaldo Nawel De Jesús López (born 21 April 2001) is a Paraguayan footballer who plays as a Central Defender for Argentine Primera División club Lanús.

Club career

=Youth career=

Born in San Patricio in the Misiones Departament, Dejesús was given his first name by his father, who idolised the Brazilian footballer Ronaldo. Dejesús began playing in his local football school before moving on to Libertad San Patricio and then Cerro Porteño at age 16. He had unsuccessfully trialled at Club Libertad and Club Olimpia, and was only permitted to join Cerro by his parents if he continued studying, in his case a course in sports sciences.{{cite news |title=El padre de Ronaldo Dejesús: "Fue a probar a Olimpia y Libertad, pero no le dieron importancia"|trans-title=Ronaldo Dejesús's father: "He went to trial at Olimpia and Libertad, but they didn't see him as important" |url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/cerro-porteno/2023/10/02/el-padre-de-ronaldo-de-jesus-fue-a-probar-a-olimpia-y-libertad-pero-no-le-dieron-tanto-importancia/ |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=ABC Color |date=2 October 2023 |language=Spanish}}

=Cerro Porteño=

On 6 April 2023, De Jesús made his debut in the Copa Libertadores in a 2–1 home win over Barcelona S.C. of Ecuador, playing the last nine minutes as a substitute for Federico Carrizo.{{cite news |title=Ronaldo de Jesús debutó en Cerro Porteño: "Todo el día oraba y ayer se dio" expresó emocionada su madre|trans-title=Ronaldo de Jesús debuted for Cerro Porteño: "He was praying all day and yesterday it happened" expressed his moved mother|url=https://www.launion.com.py/ronaldo-de-jesus-debuto-en-cerro-porteno-todo-el-dia-oraba-y-ayer-se-dio-expreso-emocionada-su-madre-196792.html |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=La Unión |date=6 April 2023 |language=Spanish}} He scored his first goal on 1 October in the Paraguayan Primera División; in a team starting with two academy players at full back due to shortages, he scored the added-time winner in a 3–2 home win over Sportivo Ameliano.{{cite news |title=Ronaldo De Jesús: "Seguramente mi mamá estará llorando y mi papá..."|trans-title=Ronaldo de Jesús: "Surely my mother will be crying and my father..." |url=https://www.versus.com.py/versus/2023/10/02/ronaldo-de-jesus-seguramente-mi-mama-estara-llorando-y-mi-papa/ |access-date=1 August 2024 |publisher=Versus |date=2 October 2023 |language=Spanish}} Six days later, he scored again in added time, this time the equaliser in a 1–1 draw at Club General Caballero JLM in the 12th minute added on.{{cite news |title=¿Por qué se jugaron más de 100 minutos en Mallorquín?|trans-title=Why did they play over 100 minutes in Mallorquín? |url=https://www.versus.com.py/versus/2023/10/07/por-que-se-jugaron-mas-de-100-minutos-en-mallorquin/ |access-date=1 August 2024 |publisher=Versus |date=7 October 2023 |language=Spanish}}

=Lanús=

On 15 January 2025, Dejesús joined Argentine Primera División side Lanús on a three-year contract. The club had wanted to bring him in on loan, which was rejected, and purchased 50% of his economic rights. He arrived to replace Abel Luciatti, who had moved in the opposite direction to Cerro Porteño.{{cite news |title=Ronaldo De Jesús, tercer refuerzo de Lanús|trans-title=Ronaldo de Jesús, third addition to Lanús |url=https://www.tycsports.com/liga-profesional-de-futbol/ronaldo-de-jesus-tecer-refuerzo-granate-id628803.html |access-date=25 January 2025 |publisher=TyC Sports |date=15 January 2025 |language=Spanish}} He made his debut eight days later in a 2–0 loss at home to Deportivo Riestra, as a substitute for the final eight minutes.{{cite news |title=Luego del golpe en el flojo debut de Pellegrino, Lanús ya piensa en Rosario Central |trans-title=After the blow on Pellegrino's weak debut, Lanús are already thinking about Rosario Central|url=https://www.tycsports.com/liga-profesional-de-futbol/luego-del-golpe-en-el-debut-lanus-ya-piensa-en-rosario-central-id630551.html |access-date=25 January 2025 |publisher=TyC Sports |date=25 January 2025 |language=Spanish}}

International career

Dejesús played all seven games for the Paraguay national under-23 football team as they won the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament in Venezuela, and scored in a 4–3 comeback win over Uruguay in the group stage. Upon his return to Asunción, he burst into tears when reunited with his mother, in a photograph that went viral in Paraguay.{{cite news |title=La emotiva foto de Ronaldo Dejesús en el regreso a Asunción|trans-title=The moving photo of Ronaldo de Jesús on his return to Asunción |url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/seleccion-paraguaya/2024/02/13/la-emotiva-foto-de-ronaldo-dejesus-en-el-regreso-a-asuncion/ |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=ABC Color |date=13 February 2024 |language=Spanish}} He was chosen for the 2024 Olympic tournament in France.{{cite news |title=¡Vamos, Paraguay! La Albirroja tiene equipo confirmado para el debut en París 2024|trans-title=Go, Paraguay! The Red and Whites have a team confirmed for the start of Paris 2024 |url=https://elnacional.com.py/deportes/2024/07/24/paraguay-tiene-equipo-confirmado-para-el-debut-en-paris-2024/ |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=La Nación (Paraguay) |date=24 July 2024 |language=Spanish}}

In March 2025, Dejesús was one of several new players called up for the senior team by manager Gustavo Alfaro, for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.{{cite news |title=Albirroja: varias novedades en la lista de Gustavo Alfaro|trans-title=Red and Whites: various new faces in Gustavo Alfaro's list|url=https://elnacional.com.py/deportes/2025/03/15/albirroja-varias-novedades-en-la-lista-de-gustavo-alfaro/ |access-date=15 March 2025 |work=La Nación (Paraguay) |date=15 March 2025 |language=Spanish}}