An interesting story;Tsunami victim found wearing Portugal shirt after surviving disaster which claimed lives of his mother and brothers follows in footsteps of Ronaldo by signing for Sporting Lisbon 11 years on

        Sporting Lisbon have signed tsunami survivor Martunis to their academy, 11 years after the disaster that forced him to survive on puddle water for 21 days and killed his mother and two brothers.

Martunis, now 17, was unveiled in the Portuguese capital having pursued his dream in spite of the desolation brought on by the disaster that hit his home in Indonesia on Boxing Day 2004.

The giant waves, caused by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean, killed 230,000 people across 14 countries and separated the young boy from his family and leaving him to live off some noodles he had found and water from puddles.

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was inspired by Martunis' story and met with him after the disaster

     Now, Martunis has joined Sporting's famous academy that nurtured the talents of his hero, Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luis Figo in the past.

'It's great to be here, this club makes my dream possible,' he said at his presentation. 'I am incredibly excited about this opportunity. Viva Sporting!'

Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho said: 'Martunis will work at the academy. We will work with him also in his development as a human being and as a man.'

The young Martunis looking at the world cup few week after the disaster

In Sporting Lisbon shirt

Two weeks after the tsunami disaster

Martinus and his father lost entire family in the disaster