Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive soccer player and self styled fashion icon selling barbecue grills? In the oddest pairing since Liza Minelli decided to hook up with David Guest, the Real Madrid superstar is reportedly working on a deal with none other than Joe Jackson, father of the late great King of Pop.

Apparently sources told celebrity gossip rag website TMZ that Jackson Sr has a financial interest in Game On Products, who are preparing to launch the soccer ball shaped grills ahead of next June’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He is scheduled to meet with CR7/9 in December, when the pair will be shooting TV and Internet advertisements for the “Goalie Grill”.

This is all because Cristiano Ronaldo wants to enhance his visibility in America, a la his Manchester United predecessor David Beckham. So far all that most of the US population at large know about him is that he hung around with a very drunken Paris Hilton before moving to Spain last summer who then proceeded to label him “too gay” for her tastes (and then according to the Spanish press had a voodoo priest place a curse on him.)

But is hooking up with the world’s most infamous stage father really the right way to go? Advance shots of the “Goalie Grill” don’t seem to put in the same league as George Foreman’s and not even Cris’ boyish grin and short shorts will be able to disguise that fact.

In slightly related news Ronaldo is still bothered by his nagging injury problems, something that lead former Barcelona great Hristo Stoichkov to advise Real Madrid  manager Manuel Pellegrini  to expect more injury problems for Ronaldo down the line, as he transitions from the Premier League to La Liga. “Injuries can kill your game. In England things are nobler, they go for the ball more. In Spain everything is different and you can pay for that." he told the press.

Maybe Joe Jackson can give Crissy some singing and dancing lessons during their shoot, just so he’ll have another talent to fall back on….