A Rhode Island man has sued Cristiano Ronaldo over the phrase 'CR7', which is used by soccer fans around the world as shorthand for the Real Madrid forward.

Christopher Renzi filed the lawsuit on Monday in the US District Court in Providence against the Portuguese soccer star and a Danish company, JBS Textile Group. The firm sells underwear with the phrase 'CR7', a combination of Ronaldo's initials and jersey number.

Renzi's lawyer said on Thursday that his client was prompted to file the lawsuit against one of the world's most famous athletes after JBS Textile lawyers threatened his client with aggressive action and petitioned to cancel his trademark.