It was neither a passing trend nor a star’s whim. 🖤
When Cristiano Ronaldo began showing his black-painted toenails on Instagram, first in April 2023 from a sauna and then in June of the same year in photos alongside his son Cristiano Jr., thousands of followers rushed to comment, caught between surprise and mockery. No one expected to see something like that on one of the most famous footballers on the planet, who was then playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
The explanation that circulated afterward changed the tone of the conversation: the polish would act as a barrier against fungi and bacteria that accumulate inside sports footwear after hours of sweat and pressure. Other elite athletes, such as UFC fighter Israel Adesanya, share the habit. Even so, some specialists warn that the best defense is still hygiene, not makeup. 👣
