Paddy Power adds ‘Original’ Ronaldo as face of Super Sub promotion

Paddy Power has drafted in Brazilian football legend Ronaldo to front a new campaign promoting the operator’s Super Sub offer.

The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan star has been recruited by the Flutter-owned brand to bring awareness to the new promotion, which allows the transfer of player-based bets.

If a player a punter has backed is substituted, their replacement will be able to fulfil the bet and return winnings for customers, in markets including anytime goalscorer, fouls and cards.

As part of the promotion activation, Ronaldo featured in a scripted social media video in which he makes a debut for Phoenix FC – a Sunday league team from Essex.

In the video, the two-time World Cup winner can be seen arriving late at Harold Hill Football Club in a stretch limo, before joining the action with his team four goals down.

In the footage, a bored and unimpressed Ronaldo can be seen talking on the phone, yawning and plodding about in the mud before being subbed off himself.

Ronaldo retired 13 years ago having also won La Liga with Madrid and the Ballon d’Or twice.

A spokesman for Paddy Power said: “They say form is temporary but, having seen him in the flesh, Ronaldo’s post-retirement form does now seem pretty permanent. It happens to us all, R9.

“Luckily, punters don’t need to get out of shape with our new Super Sub feature, which transfers bets when your player is subbed off.

“It’s the best product we’ve ever released – exclusive to Paddy Power – and we’re loving the fact our punters are in the game for longer and have more chances of winning,” the spokesperson added.