Early Career and Rise to Fame
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM (born 5 February 1985), popularly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward. He is the captain of the Portugal national team and currently plays for Al Nassr, a football club in Saudi Arabia.Ronaldo is often considered one of the best footballers ever, and he has earned many awards and titles during his career.
He started his career at 16 with Sporting CP in 2002 and then joined Manchester United in 2003.During his time in England, Ronaldo won three consecutive Premier League titles (2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09) and lifted the UEFA Champions League in 2008. That same year, he also secured his first Ballon d’Or. In July 2009, Ronaldo became the most expensive footballer in the world when he joined Real Madrid for £80 million. That same year, he was named among the “World Players of the Decade 2000s,” ranking third behind Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.By 2017, he had won his fifth Ballon d’Or and fifth Champions League title, making him the first player to win the competition five times.Ronaldo left Real Madrid in 2018 as the club’s all-time leading scorer and the only player in La Liga history to score 30+ goals in six straight seasons, before moving to Juventus.
On the world stage, Ronaldo first played for Portugal when he was 18 years old. His first goal for the national team came during Euro 2004, when Portugal made it to the final. Since then, he has played for Portugal in five European Championship tournaments—2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024—and several FIFA World Cups, including 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Early Life
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born in early 1985 in Funchal, on the Madeira Islands, to Maria Dolores dos Santos and José Dinis Aveiro.Cristiano Ronaldo was raised with three brothers and sisters—his brother Hugo and two sisters named Katia and Elma.. At the age of 15, in the year 2000, Cristiano Ronaldo was diagnosed with tachycardia, a condition that caused his heart to beat irregularly. Despite this challenge, his passion for football never faded. Ronaldo’s journey with Sporting CP began in 1997, when Cristiano Ronaldo was just 12 years old. After a successful trial, the club signed him for a fee of £1,500, leading him to leave his hometown of Funchal and relocate to Lisbon to join Sporting’s youth academy. By the age of 14, his fiery temperament got him expelled from school after an incident where he threw a chair at a teacher. During his childhood, Cristiano Ronaldo looked up to Brazilian football icons Ronaldinho and Ronaldo Nazário, often praising them for the “beautiful history” they created in football.
Club Career
Sporting CP
Cristiano Ronaldo made his professional debut on 14 August 2002 in a match against Inter Milan, where Cristiano Ronaldo entered as a substitute during the second half. Just a few weeks later, on 7 October 2002, he featured in his first Portuguese Primeira Liga game against Moreirense, scoring twice and helping Sporting secure a 3–0 victory.In August 2003, during the first match at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Sporting beat Manchester United 3–1. Ronaldo played exceptionally well in that game, which made a big impression on the United team. His amazing skills soon caught the attention of Manchester United’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo’s career began on 14 August 2002 in a friendly game against Inter Milan, when he was brought off the bench as a substitute during the second half. Two weeks later, on 7 October 2002, he featured in his first Portuguese Primeira Liga match against Moreirense, scoring twice in a 3–0 victory for Sporting. Ronaldo’s ability was appreciated around the globe, particularly in August 2003 when Sporting hosted Manchester United in the first-ever match at the Estádio José Alvalade. Sporting’s 3–1 victory was a memorable one for Ronaldo, as he left an indelible mark on Sir Alex Ferguson and the United squad.
Real Madrid
On 1 July 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid as an official player for a then-world record transfer of €94 million on a six-year contract. His mesmerizing debut at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium drew in a record 80,000 spectators, eclipsing the 25-year-old past record of Diego Maradona’s presentation at Napoli. Sporting the number 9 shirt in his inaugural season—because Raúl González still had the legendary number 7—Ronaldo took over the No. 7 shirt in 2010 when Raúl departed the club.
His first appearance was on 29 August 2009 in a La Liga game against Deportivo de La Coruña and scored in a 3–2 win. Ronaldo scored his first four-goal game in a game on 23 October 2010, as Real Madrid won 6–1 v Racing de Santander.Cristiano Ronaldo won his first title with Spain during the second half of the season and then scored the winning goal with a header in extra time in the 2011 Copa del Rey final against Barcelona. Ronaldo was the first player in La Liga history to score 40 goals in a season at the end of the 2010–11 season.
In November 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo netted both goals in a 2–0 Champions League win against Lyon, his second goal being his 100th for Real Madrid—achieved in 105 matches. Four months later, in March 2012, he netted his 100th La Liga goal in just 92 games when he scored in a 5–1 win against Real Sociedad. His record-breaking goal carried on into the 2012–13 season, in which he assisted Real Madrid to win the Supercopa de España against Barcelona, netted his first Champions League hat-trick against Ajax, and netted 200 goals for the club by the end of May 2013. That year he also won his second Ballon d’Or.
The 2013–14 campaign was Ronaldo’s best career year to date as he was the first player to score 17 times in a Champions League season, topped by a penalty in the final against Atlético Madrid which Real Madrid won 4–1. In the 2014–15 season, he netted a personal high of 61 goals across competitions, won his third Ballon d’Or, and scored five goals in a single match for the first time in a 9–1 win against Granada. In September 2015, Ronaldo broke Raúl’s record to become Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer after scoring five goals against Espanyol, reaching his 230th goal in 203 games. His dominance also went on in the Champions League. On 18 April 2017, Ronaldo became the first player in history to score 100 goals in the competition when he reached the landmark with a hat-trick against Bayern Munich. Later in March 2018, he obtained his 50th career hat-trick in a 6–3 win over Girona. One of his highlights was perhaps on 3 April 2018 when he scored an incredible bicycle kick goal against Juventus to the deafening cheers of the opposition fans who gave him a standing ovation. Later in the same campaign, Real Madrid beat Liverpool in the Champions League final to give Ronaldo his fifth European championship and cement his place as one of the greatest players in the history of the club.
Juventus
On the 10th of July, 2018 Cristiano Ronaldo made a breathtaking switch for Juventus in Italy by signing the four-year contract that is worth EUR112 million. The contract was historic as the biggest transfer fee ever paid by an athlete who was more than 30 years of age. of age. It was commonly nicknamed by many as “the deal of the century.
Ronaldo scored his debut goal for Juventus on the 16th of September, 2018, in the 2-1 home win over Sassuolo. A few hours later, he was the victim of controversy when the club had him sent off against Valencia in an Champions League match for supposed violence.
An emotional Ronaldo Ronaldo was spotted leaving the pitch in tears He claimed he’d “done nothing wrong.” Despite his initial struggles, Ronaldo quickly established himself. In January of this year He won his first trophy for Juventus in January 2019, that of the Supercoppa Italiana, with the decisive goal that defeated AC Milan to win the trophy.
Return to Manchester United
On 31 August 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo made a dramatic return to Manchester United and the Premier League, rejoining the club where he first became a global superstar. In the 2021–22 season, he proved his enduring class by scoring 18 league goals, finishing as United’s top scorer despite the team’s struggles.
Al-Nassr
On 30 December 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo signed a landmark two-year contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, reported to be worth around €200 million per year, making it one of the most lucrative deals in football history.
By June 2024, he had already made his mark by setting a new Saudi Pro League single-season scoring record, netting 35 goals in the 2024–25 campaign.
International Career
Youth
Cristiano Ronaldo initially represented Portugal internationally at the under-15 level in 2001. Cristiano Ronaldo represented Portugal U-17 at the UEFA U-17 European Championship the next year. He won the Toulon Tournament with the Portugal U-20 side in June 2003. He represented the U-21 side in the 2004 European U-21 Championship qualifiers in the same year. Ronaldo represented Portugal U-23 at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, his sole goal of the tournament against Morocco, in 2004.
Senior
Cristiano Ronaldo steadily rose through Portugal’s youth ranks before making his senior debut at age 18, on 20 August 2003, in a friendly against Kazakhstan. Less than a year later,Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first international goal during UEFA Euro 2004 in a match against Greece.Ronaldo’s first World Cup appearance came in 2006. He found the net against Iran, marking his first-ever World Cup goal.
During the quarter-final against England, a controversial incident occurred when Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo’s Manchester United teammate, was sent off. Ronaldo was seen appealing to the referee and later winking at the Portugal bench, which sparked criticism from fans who believed he had influenced the decision. Despite this, Portugal advanced, and Ronaldo continued to establish himself as a key player.
In February 2007, Ronaldo captained Portugal for the first time in a friendly against Brazil. He went on to score at Euro 2008, though Portugal exited in the quarter-finals after a close 3-2 loss to Germany. At the 2010 World Cup, he netted only once, against North Korea, but was named man of the match in all three group-stage games. Portugal’s run ended in the round of 16, losing 1-0 to Spain, who eventually won the tournament.
Ronaldo’s first international hat-trick came on 6 September 2013 in a 4-2 victory over Northern Ireland, where he scored all three goals in just 15 minutes. In March 2014, he became Portugal’s all-time leading scorer after netting twice against Cameroon. At the 2014 World Cup, he scored against Ghana and assisted a late equalizer against the United States. Two years later, at Euro 2016, Ronaldo scored with a memorable backheel against Hungary, becoming the first player to score in four European Championships. Though he was forced off injured in the final, Portugal defeated France 1-0 in extra time to win their first-ever major international trophy.
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Ronaldo struck four goals, including a stunning hat-trick in a 3-3 draw with Spain and the winner against Morocco. Despite missing a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Iran, Portugal advanced but were knocked out by Uruguay 2-1 in the round of 16. That tournament made Ronaldo one of only four players to score in four different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018).
In June 2019, he lifted his second international trophy when Portugal won the inaugural UEFA Nations League, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final.
Personal Life
Personal Life, Family, and Legacy Beyond Football
Cristiano Ronaldo faced a personal tragedy in September 2005, when his father, José Aveiro, died of liver disease at the age of 52. Ronaldo, who was only 20 at the time, has often said this loss is one of the main reasons he avoids drinking alcohol, though he has admitted to doing so on very rare occasions.
In 2006, Ronaldo expanded his interests beyond football by opening his first fashion boutique, CR7, in his hometown of Madeira. Cristiano Ronaldo later launched more boutiques in Lisbon (2008) and Madrid (2009). In December 2013, he opened the Museu CR7 in Madeira, dedicated to displaying his trophies and career achievements.
Ronaldo became a father on 17 June 2010, welcoming his first child, Cristiano Jr., who was born in the United States via a surrogate. Ronaldo has full custody and has chosen to keep the identity of his son’s mother private, promising to share the truth with his son when he is older. On 8 June 2017, Ronaldo announced the birth of twins, Mateo and Eva, also via surrogate in the United States. Later that year, in November 2017, his partner Georgina Rodríguez gave birth to their daughter, Alana Martina.
Ronaldo has had high-profile relationships, including with Russian model Irina Shayk from 2010 to 2015. He began dating Georgina Rodríguez in 2016, and the couple was first seen together publicly at Disneyland Paris in November that year.
A devout Roman Catholic, Ronaldo has no tattoos, as it would prevent him from donating blood. His life and career were showcased in a documentary film titled “Ronaldo”, released on 9 November 2015.
On 29 March 2017, Madeira Airport was officially renamed Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, and a bust of him was unveiled during the ceremony.
Ronaldo is also a global social media icon. He became the most-followed person on Instagram in 2018 after surpassing Selena Gomez, and by 2023, his followers had grown to over 600 million.
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 19 May 2021
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | League Cup | Europe[b] | Other[c] | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sporting CP B[109] | 2002–03 | Segunda Divisão | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Sporting CP[109] | 2002–03 | Primeira Liga | 25 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 3[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 5 | |
| Total | 25 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 5 | |||
| Manchester United[110] | 2003–04[111] | Premier League | 29 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 6 |
| 2004–05 | Premier League | 33 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 9 | |
| 2005–06 | Premier League | 33 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1[e] | — | 47 | 12 | ||
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 34 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | — | 53 | 23 | ||
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 34 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 1[f] | 0 | 49 | 42 | |
| 2008–09 | Premier League | 33 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 2[g] | 1 | 53 | 26 | |
| Total | 196 | 84 | 26 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 55 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 292 | 118 | ||
| Real Madrid | 2009–10[112] | La Liga | 29 | 26 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 7 | — | 35 | 33 | ||
| 2010–11[113] | La Liga | 34 | 40[h] | 8 | 7 | — | 12 | 6 | — | 54 | 53 | |||
| 2011–12[115] | La Liga | 38 | 46 | 5 | 3 | — | 10 | 10 | 2[i] | 1 | 55 | 60 | ||
| 2012–13[116] | La Liga | 34 | 34 | 7 | 7 | — | 12 | 12 | 2[i] | 2 | 55 | 55 | ||
| 2013–14[117] | La Liga | 30 | 31 | 6 | 3 | — | 11 | 17 | — | 47 | 51 | |||
| 2014–15[118] | La Liga | 35 | 48 | 2 | 1 | — | 12 | 10 | 5[j] | 2 | 54 | 61 | ||
| 2015–16[118] | La Liga | 36 | 35 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 16 | — | 48 | 51 | |||
| 2016–17 | La Liga | 29 | 25 | 2 | 1 | — | 13 | 12 | 2[g] | 4 | 46 | 42 | ||
| 2017–18 | La Liga | 27 | 26 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 15 | 4[k] | 3 | 44 | 44 | ||
| Total | 292 | 311 | 30 | 22 | — | 101 | 105 | 15 | 12 | 438 | 450 | |||
| Juventus | 2018–19[118] | Serie A | 31 | 21 | 2 | 0 | — | 9 | 6 | 1[l] | 1 | 43 | 28 | |
| 2019–20[118] | Serie A | 33 | 31 | 4 | 2 | — | 8 | 4 | 1[l] | 1 | 46 | 37 | ||
| 2020–21[118] | Serie A | 33 | 29 | 4 | 2 | — | 6 | 4 | 1[l] | 1 | 44 | 36 | ||
| Total | 97 | 81 | 10 | 4 | — | 23 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 133 | 101 | |||
| Career Total | 612 | 479 | 69 | 41 | 12 | 4 | 182 | 135 | 21 | 15 | 896 | 674 | ||
