Unexpectedly, Ricky Martin's representatives publicly announced in mid-August 2008 that he had become the father of twins through a surrogate mother.
In the brief statement they sent, they stated that the artist would take the rest of the year off from professional commitments to be with the babies and that he felt "very proud and happy to start this new chapter of his life as a father."
Details such as the mother's name and the birthplace were not disclosed. The singer of "Livin' la vida loca" wanted to be calm so that nothing would distort the happy moment he was going through.
On August 6th, Matteo and Valentino turned 18, celebrating in Puerto Rico, the artist's home country where he has decided to establish his residence for now, as he is in a new vital and professional stage.
Ricky always expressed his desire to be a father and, therefore, did not hesitate to resort to surrogacy, which was not as popular among celebrities at that time. Four months after their birth, he granted his first photo shoot and interview in the magazine "¡Hola!": "Valentino means 'the brave' and Matteo means 'a gift from God'," he confessed at the time.
Naturally and without fear of expressing his feelings, the singer commented that being a father is "the most intense job I have ever done. I am exhausted, but I have never been so happy. It is magical, intense, and a blessing." From the beginning, he wanted to be attentive to every minute of his children's development, so he changed their diapers, comforted them at night, took them for walks, etc.
The bond between them is so strong that they decided not to separate despite Ricky Martin's tours around the world. They chose a system of private tutors to receive the necessary education, just as he did when he was part of the group Menudo as a child. They also attended an exclusive French school because the singer's intention was for his children to have the broadest perspective and necessary knowledge of the world.
Therefore, Matteo and Valentino are trilingual, speaking Spanish, English, and French fluently. The teenagers adore their father so much that one of them wrote a loving note in Flaubert's language that said, "Good morning, dad. I love you. You are the best dad in the world. You are the best singer in the world. I love you."
"I like that we are so close and that they ask all the questions they need to ask, that the answers are transparent and truthful," the singer declared two years ago on the show "Despierta América." Clarity has been essential. In 2024, on Kelly Clarkson's show, Martin explained in a relaxed manner how his two eldest children found out that he was famous: "When they were about 5 or 6 years old, I allowed them to be in front of the stage because, for me, I think it was overstimulating. So they always saw me behind the stage, so they went in front of the stage and when they came back, they said, 'I know, daddy, you are Ricky Martin'."
In addition, Valentino and Matteo have always gotten along wonderfully with the singer's partners. Martin's first official boyfriend was the Puerto Rican businessman and economist Carlos González Abella, with whom he was from 2011 to 2014. Two years later, the Syrian-born artist Jwan Yosef (41) came into the vocalist's life, whom he married in 2017. The relationship was so solid that the couple decided to experience parenthood again with the arrival of Lucía (7) and Renn (6), the singer's two young children.
Ricky's greatest joy of having a large family had come true, "but I would like to have up to 10 children," he expressed in the past. Despite the marriage separating three years ago, they still maintain a relationship of affection and friendship that they project in the upbringing of the youngest ones.
Of the twins, Valentino is the most media-savvy, showcasing his great dancing skills on social media.
He has also shown to be a very mature person when, through a video on Instagram posted last July, he told his almost 150,000 followers that he has his own identity and is tired of comparisons: "My father is my father, I am Valentino, you have to understand, just because I am his son, we are not the same person. Please do not compare me to my father, and please see me as Valentino, I do not want to be seen as Ricky Martin's son, you must see me as Valentino," he diplomatically stated. In contrast, Matteo is usually more discreet and shy.