Banepa (Nepal), Aug 28 (IANS): Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a signed Real Madrid shirt to Jetin Shrestha, a 13-year-old boy who kept kicking a football around in the street as the earthquake struck Nepal in April.

The youngster had no idea what was in the package when it arrived at his home town of Banepa in central Nepal, reports telegraph.co.uk on Friday. To the kid's amazement it was a shirt which was not only signed by the former Manchester United star striker but also had a personal message: "Jetin, be strong, best wishes, Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Determined to hone his skills, Jetin resolutely kept playing football as around him the earth shook and people fled in April. Eventually the earthquake claimed more than 5,000 lives.

A photographer, Omar Havana and journalist, Magarida Mota, were the link between the young teenager and his idol.

They contacted Jorge Mendes, Ronaldo’s agent, and told him the story of the young footballer who kept playing through the devastation.

Jetin was stunned to receive the shirt from Ronaldo. "One day I would love to also play for Real Madrid, because I love football," Jetin said.

Such generosity is not unusual from Ronaldo and goes back more than a decade.

During his stint with United, the Portugal captain flew to Indonesia after seeing footage of a young tsunami survivor wearing his famous number seven shirt and helped raise money for the reconstruction of the devastated country.

He has donated football boots and other signed shirts and even paid more than 50,000 pounds for a 10-month-old baby to have brain surgery.