Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM, born on February 5, 1985, is a Portuguese footballer. He plays as a forward for Al Nassr and captains Portugal. Nicknamed CR7, he is regarded as one of football’s greatest players, winning five Ballon d'Ors, four European Golden Shoes, and numerous FIFA and UEFA awards. 

Personal information
Ronaldo with Al Nassr in 2023
Full nameCristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Date of birth5 February 1985 (age 40)
Place of birthFunchal, Madeira, Portugal
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)Forward
Current team
Al Nassr
Number7
1992–1995Andorinha
1995–1997Nacional
1997–2002Sporting CP
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2002–2003Sporting CP B2(0)
2002–2003Sporting CP25(3)
2003–2009Manchester United196(84)
2009–2018Real Madrid292(311)
2018–2021Juventus98(81)
2021–2022Manchester United40(19)
2023–Al Nassr66(65)
2001Portugal U159(7)
2001–2002Portugal U177(5)
2003Portugal U205(1)
2002–2003Portugal U2110(3)
2004Portugal U233(2)
2003–Portugal217(135)
Signature
 
Cristiano Ronaldo signature

Ronaldo holds records for most goals and assists in the UEFA Champions League, European Championship, and international football. He has scored over 900 career goals and is football’s all-time top scorer. Ronaldo started his career at Sporting CP before joining Manchester United in 2003. He won three Premier League titles and the Champions League, earning his first Ballon d'Or at 23. In 2009, he transferred to Real Madrid for €94 million, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer and winning four Champions League titles. He secured back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. After nine years, he moved to Juventus in 2018, winning two Serie A titles. Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in 2021 before joining Al Nassr in 2023, helping revolutionize Saudi Arabian football.

Internationally, Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in 2003 at 18 and became the country’s most-capped player and top scorer. He led Portugal to their first major title at Euro 2016 and won the 2019 UEFA Nations League. He holds the record for most international goals and caps in men’s football. Off the field, Ronaldo is one of the most marketable athletes. He was Forbes’ highest-paid athlete in 2016, 2017, 2023, and 2024 and has over a billion social media followers. He became the first footballer to earn $1 billion and was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team. His global influence extends beyond football, making him a sports icon.

Personal life

Family, Children, and Relationships

Cristiano Ronaldo has five children. His first son was born on June 17, 2010, in the United States. He has full custody and has never disclosed the mother's identity, following a private agreement. In 2015, Ronaldo ended his five-year relationship with Russian model Irina Shayk. In June 2017, he welcomed twins via surrogacy. Later that year, his partner, Argentine-born Spanish model Georgina Rodríguez, gave birth to their daughter on November 12, 2017. In 2022, the couple expected another set of twins, but the male twin tragically passed away during childbirth, while the female twin survived. Ronaldo’s father, José Dinis Aveiro, passed away in September 2005 at age 52 due to an alcohol-related liver condition. After Ronaldo's move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 to play for Al Nassr, authorities made an exception for him and Georgina to live together, despite the country's laws prohibiting unmarried couples from cohabiting. Ronaldo has Cape Verdean ancestry from his great-grandmother and is a devout Catholic. His mother, Dolores Aveiro, became a popular figure in Portugal, appearing in advertisements for brands like Maggi, MultiOpticas, and Pingo Doce.

Health

Ronaldo maintains a strict lifestyle, abstaining from alcohol. He successfully sued the Daily Mirror for libel over false claims that he was drinking heavily while recovering from an injury in 2008. He also has no tattoos, as he frequently donates blood and bone marrow.

Legal Issues

In 2017, Spanish authorities charged Ronaldo with tax fraud, accusing him of evading nearly €15 million between 2011 and 2014. In 2018, he accepted a settlement, paying a reduced fine of €16.8 million and receiving a two-year suspended sentence, which did not require jail time under Spanish law. In 2005, Ronaldo was investigated in the UK over a rape allegation. However, the accusers withdrew their claims, and Scotland Yard concluded there was insufficient evidence to prosecute. In 2017, reports surfaced about a 2009 rape allegation in Las Vegas. Ronaldo had previously paid the accuser $375,000 in a non-disclosure settlement. He denied all accusations, calling them an attempt to damage his reputation. In 2019, Las Vegas prosecutors dropped the case, citing a lack of sufficient evidence. The woman later filed a civil lawsuit seeking £56 million in damages. However, in 2021, a federal magistrate recommended dismissal, ruling that her lawyer acted in bad faith by using stolen legal documents. In June 2022, the case was dismissed with prejudice in a U.S. district court, citing "abuses and circumvention of the litigation process" by the plaintiff’s attorney.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Football Career

Early Years & Sporting CP (1997–2003)

Cristiano Ronaldo started his football journey with Andorinha (1992–1995) before moving to Nacional (1995–1997). At age 12, he joined Sporting CP’s academy in Lisbon, where he displayed exceptional skills and rapid development. By 16, he was already competing at the senior level for Sporting CP, standing out with his speed, dribbling, and technical ability. In 2002, at just 17, Ronaldo debuted in the Primeira Liga for Sporting CP. His turning point came when he impressed Manchester United in a friendly match, catching the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Manchester United (2003–2009)

In 2003, Ronaldo transferred to Manchester United for £12.24 million, setting a record as the most expensive teenager in English football at the time. Assigned the prestigious No. 7 jersey, he quickly became a central figure for the club.

  • 2003–2006: Initially criticized for over-dribbling, Ronaldo refined his game under Ferguson’s mentorship and helped United win the FA Cup in his debut season (2003–04).
  • 2006–2009: He emerged as one of the world’s top players, securing three consecutive Premier League titles (2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09), the 2008 UEFA Champions League, and the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. His outstanding 42-goal season in 2007–08 earned him his first Ballon d’Or in 2008.
Real Madrid (2009–2018)

In 2009, Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid for a then-record fee of €94 million (£80 million). Over nine seasons, he became the club’s all-time leading scorer with 450 goals in 438 matches.

  • 2009–2013: He won his first La Liga title in the 2011–12 season, scoring 46 goals, and also secured the 2011 Copa del Rey.
  • 2013–2018: Ronaldo played a key role in Real Madrid’s dominance, winning four UEFA Champions League titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), including an unprecedented three consecutive triumphs. He won four more Ballon d’Or awards during this period (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017). From 2012 to 2018, he finished as the Champions League’s top scorer for six straight seasons.

Following disagreements with Real Madrid’s management, Ronaldo departed in 2018, leaving behind five Ballon d’Or awards, two La Liga titles, and two Copa del Rey trophies, alongside numerous club and individual records.

Juventus (2018–2021)

In 2018, Ronaldo signed with Juventus for €100 million (£88 million), becoming the most expensive player in Serie A history.

  • 2018–2021: He won two Serie A championships (2018–19, 2019–20) and the 2020–21 Coppa Italia. He became the first footballer to finish as the top scorer in the English Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A.
  • 2021: Ronaldo ended the season as Serie A’s top scorer with 29 goals before departing.
Return to Manchester United (2021–2022)

In August 2021, Ronaldo made a dramatic return to Manchester United. Despite finishing the 2021–22 season as the club’s top scorer with 24 goals, his tenure ended in November 2022 after an explosive interview in which he criticized United’s management.

Al Nassr (2023–Present)

In January 2023, Ronaldo signed with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, reportedly earning €200 million annually. His transfer significantly boosted the league’s global visibility and paved the way for other top players to join Saudi football.

Portugal National Team (2003–Present)

Since his international debut in 2003 at age 18, Ronaldo has played in 11 major tournaments, becoming Portugal’s all-time leading goal scorer and most-capped player.

  • Euro 2004: Helped Portugal reach the final.
  • 2016: Led Portugal to victory at Euro 2016, their first major international title.
  • 2019: Captained Portugal to triumph in the inaugural UEFA Nations League.
  • 2021: Became the all-time top goal scorer in international football.
  • 2023: Became the most-capped male international footballer in history.
Legacy & Achievements
  • All-time leading goal scorer: Over 900 career goals.
  • Most goals in UEFA Champions League history: 140 goals.
  • Most international goals: 135 goals.
  • Most Ballon d’Or nominations: 19 times.
  • First footballer to surpass $1 billion in career earnings.

Popularity and Online Presence

Cristiano Ronaldo has built a massive online following. He was named in the 2014 Time 100 list of the most influential people. ESPN ranked him the world's most famous athlete in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. His jerseys have been top-selling throughout his career, with his Juventus number 7 shirt selling 520,000 units within 24 hours in 2018, generating $62.4 million. On social media, Ronaldo was the first person to surpass 500 million total followers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by February 2021. He remains the most-followed person on Facebook (170 million), Instagram (631 million), and the most-followed athlete on Twitter (111 million). His social media endorsements generated $936 million in media value between June 2016 and June 2017. In August 2024, he launched his YouTube channel, UR Cristiano, which became the fastest channel to hit 1 million subscribers in 90 minutes. It also became the fastest to reach 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 million subscribers and the most-subscribed channel in Portugal, surpassing Portuguese Nick Jr.

Wealth and Sponsorships

Ronaldo ranked second on Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes of the decade (2010–2019) with €720 million in earnings, behind Floyd Mayweather Jr. He topped Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid footballers twice, earning $73 million in 2013–14 and $79 million in 2014–15. In 2016, he became the first footballer to top Forbes’ highest-earning athletes list, with $88 million in income. He retained the spot in 2017 with $93 million. He is the first footballer and only the third athlete to earn $1 billion in career earnings. A highly marketable athlete, Ronaldo was rated the fifth most marketable by SportsPro in 2012 and eighth in 2013. In 2014, Repucom named him the most marketable and recognized footballer worldwide. Since his rise at Manchester United, he has secured sponsorships with brands including Nike, soft drinks, clothing, financial services, electronics, and video games. He has been the cover star of FIFA 18 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, 2012, and 2013.

Philanthropy

Ronaldo has contributed to various charities. After seeing an eight-year-old boy survive the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia wearing a Portugal jersey, he visited Aceh to raise funds. In 2009, he donated £100,000 to a Madeira hospital that treated his mother’s cancer. In 2010, he pledged to play a charity match for Madeira flood victims. He has funded medical treatment for children, including a nine-year-old boy with terminal cancer in 2012. Ronaldo joined FIFA’s "11 for Health" initiative to educate kids on diseases like HIV and malaria. He became a Save the Children Global Artist Ambassador in 2013 and an ambassador for the Mangrove Care Forum in Indonesia. In 2015, he was named the world's most charitable athlete after donating £5 million for Nepal earthquake relief. In 2016, he donated his €600,000 Champions League bonus to charity. That year, he also launched CR7Selfie, an app raising funds for Save the Children.

Eponyms and Honors

In 2007, C.D. Nacional renamed its youth campus Cristiano Ronaldo Campus Futebol. In 2013, he opened Museu CR7 in Funchal, Madeira, showcasing his trophies. In January 2014, Portugal’s President honored him as Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry for his global influence. Astronomers named a galaxy, Cosmos Redshift 7 (CR7), after him in 2015. In 2016, Madeira Airport was renamed Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport despite local opposition. In 2020, Sporting CP renamed its academy Academia Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2023, Lisbon awarded him the Medal of Honor for his contributions.

Public Art

Ronaldo has been depicted in public artworks, including a wax figure at Madame Tussauds in 2010 and another at the Madrid Wax Museum in 2013. A bronze statue of him was unveiled in Funchal in 2014. In 2017, the Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport was inaugurated, featuring a controversial bust of Ronaldo, which was widely ridiculed. A new bust was later revealed in 2018.

Business Ventures

In 2006, Ronaldo opened his CR7 fashion boutique in Madeira and expanded to Lisbon in 2008. In 2013, he partnered with JBS Textile Group and designer Richard Chai to launch CR7 underwear and socks. In 2014, he expanded to premium shirts and shoes. In 2015, he launched the fragrance "Legacy" with Eden Parfums. Since 2023, Ronaldo has been an investor in Medialivre, the company that owns Correio da Manhã, Record, and Jornal de Negócios. In 2011, he launched an iPhone game, Heads Up with Cristiano, and in 2013, he introduced Viva Ronaldo, a social networking app.

Media

Ronaldo's autobiography, Moments, was published in 2007. In 2011, Castrol produced the TV film Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit, analyzing his physical and mental abilities. In 2014, a documentary narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet, was released. In 2015, Anthony Wonke directed the documentary Ronaldo, chronicling his life and career.

 

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