Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his anguish over the plight of children in war-shattered Syria and made a donation to help fund emergency supplies in Aleppo.
Aleppo has witnessed four years of brutal fighting between rebels and government forces until Thursday when opposition fighters left, putting the government in full control for the first time since 2012.
In a video message posted on his official Twitter account, the Portugal captain said: "This is for the children of Syria. We know that you have been suffering a lot. I am a very famous player, but you are the true heroes. Don't lose your hope. The world is with you. We care about you. I am with you."
A message of hope to the children affected by the conflict in Syria. @SavetheChildren pic.twitter.com/Zsdvu2nuXd
- Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 23, 2016
Save the Children says Ronaldo's "generous donation" will fund food, clothing and medical care for families in Aleppo and across Syria.
"Cristiano Ronaldo's generous donation will help us to support children from Aleppo and across Syria, who have suffered things children should never have to live through," Save the Children director Nick Finney said in a statement.
"We are tremendously grateful for his life-changing support. Ronaldo is not only one of the world's most iconic sports figures, but he also has become a beacon of hope for millions of boys and girls worldwide -- and hope is something that Syria's children need now more than ever."
Street fighting and punishing aerial bombardments in Aleppo saw hospitals bombed and tens of thousands of homes and apartments become uninhabitable.