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(CNN) - Soccer players from around the world unite to help combat the spread of the coronavirus. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each reportedly donated € 1 million (US $ 1.1 million) to the cause.
The Barcelona Clinic confirmed on Tuesday that it received a donation from the Argentine, which will be used both for the treatment of infected patients and for the investigation of covid-19.
"Thank you very much Leo, for your commitment and your support," said the hospital.
The Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported that half a million euros will go to the Barcelona Clinic and the other half to a medical center in Messi's native Argentina.
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Spain is one of the countries most affected by the new coronavirus outbreak with more than 33,000 confirmed cases and 2,100 deaths, which puts the health system under immense strain.
The League has also been suspended indefinitely, and officials said Monday that it would only resume when the government confirms that it is safe to do so.
Meanwhile, the considerable donation of Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes will be divided between two hospitals in Lisbon and Porto.
The million euros will finance two intensive care units for the Hospital de Santa María in Lisbon while dealing with the covid-19 outbreak. Those two units can serve up to 20 patients at a time and will be named Ronaldo and Mendes, the hospital revealed to CNN Sport.
"They were absolutely disinterested and supportive," said Santa María president Daniel Ferro in a statement. "They wanted to improve the conditions of their compatriots. Therefore, we strengthen the critical care area, which is where the greatest battle will be fought. ”
In Porto, the Santo Antonio hospital will have a room equipped with 15 intensive care beds, ventilators and monitors, Reuters reported.
"We want to thank Ronaldo and Mendes for the initiative, which is so useful at a time when the country needs so much from everyone," Paulo Barbosa, president of the Santo Antonio administrative council, said in a statement.
Portugal has just over 2,000 confirmed cases of covid-19 and 23 deaths.
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Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola also made a € 1 million donation, helping to finance the Angel Soler Daniel Foundation and the Barcelona Medical College.
The College indicated that the donation will be used to purchase and supply medical and protective equipment for medical personnel fighting the covid-19 pandemic.
In response to the coronavirus outbreak in France, Paris Saint-Germain donated € 100,000 (US $ 108,000) to the Secours Populaire Francais (SPF), an organization dedicated to fighting poverty.
The sum is in addition to the € 400,000 (US $ 433,000) three-year agreement that PSG renewed with SPF earlier this month.
The club said the money will go towards protective equipment for doctors, the training of 2,000 volunteers, the payment of 5,000 educational kits for schoolchildren in isolation and the provision of food and support for the elderly and homeless.
Last week, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski also donated € 1 million to help fight the outbreak in Germany.
Coronavirus Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi
