How Cristiano Ronaldo built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Cristiano Ronaldo, often called CR7, is a Portuguese professional footballer renowned as one of the greatest of all time. He currently plays for Al-Nassr and captains the Portugal national team. He boasts numerous individual awards, including five Ballon d'Or titles, record-setting UEFA Men's Player of the Year awards, and four European Golden Shoes. His trophy cabinet includes seven league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, and a UEFA European Championship. Ronaldo holds Champions League records for goals (140) and assists (42) and European Championship records for goals (14) and assists (8), and international records for appearances (221) and goals (138). Having made over 1,200 career appearances, he's the outfield player with the most appearances, and his over 900 official senior career goals make him the all-time top goalscorer.
On 20 July 2020, Ronaldo became the oldest player, at the age of 35 years and 166 days, to score over 30 goals in one of the five top European leagues since Ronnie Rooke with Arsenal in 1948.
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or, becoming Manchester United's first Ballon d'Or winner since Best in 1968.
From 1992 to 1995, Cristiano Ronaldo played for Andorinha, where his father was the kit man.
From 1992 to 1995, Cristiano Ronaldo played for Andorinha, where his father was the kit man.
In 1997, at age 12, Cristiano Ronaldo went on a three-day trial with Sporting CP, who signed him for £1,500.
During the 2022 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped from the starting line-up for Portugal's last 16 match, marking the first time Portugal had started a knockout game without Ronaldo in the starting line-up at an international tournament since Euro 2000.
On 14 August 2002, at age 17, Cristiano Ronaldo played his first official match for Sporting CP's first team in a UEFA Champions League qualifying round against Inter Milan at José Alvalade Stadium.
On 12 August 2003, Manchester United signed Cristiano Ronaldo for £12 million, an England record for a teenager, making him the first Portuguese player to sign for the club.
On August 20, 2003, at the age of 18, Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal as a substitute against Kazakhstan.
In 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Manchester United after beginning his senior career with Sporting CP, and won the FA Cup in his first season.
In 2003, at the age of 18, Cristiano Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal.
On 15 May 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opening goal in a victory against Aston Villa and later received the first red card of his career. He ended his first season in English football with a trophy, scoring the opening goal in United's 3–0 win over Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup Final.
In 2004, after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Ronaldo visited Aceh, Indonesia, to raise funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction after seeing a survivor wearing a Portuguese football shirt.
During his third season in England, and following the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo was involved in an incident where club teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off. Ronaldo publicly asked for a transfer, lamenting the lack of support he felt he had received from the club over the incident. United denied the possibility of him leaving the club.
In 2006, Ronaldo opened a fashion boutique under the name CR7 on the island of Madeira, marking his initial foray into the fashion industry.
In the 2006-07 season, Cristiano Ronaldo won the Professional Footballers' Association's Player's Player, Fans' Player, Young Player of the Year awards, and the Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year award, becoming the first player to win all four main PFA and FWA honors.
In 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo was named runner-up to Kaká for the 2007 Ballon d'Or, and came third, behind Kaká and Lionel Messi, in the running for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year award.
In 2007, Ronaldo's autobiography, titled Moments, was published, providing insights into his life and career.
In 2007–08 season, Cristiano Ronaldo earned his first Ballon d'Or, at the age of 23 while playing for Manchester United.
In January 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first hat-trick for Manchester United in a 6–0 win against Newcastle United.
In 2008, Ronaldo donated undisclosed damages from a libel case against The Sun newspaper to a charity in Madeira.
In 2008, Ronaldo opened a second CR7 fashion boutique in Lisbon, expanding his fashion business in Portugal.
In 2008, Ronaldo's number 7 Manchester United shirt was the best-selling Premier League sports product.
Winning his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 by a record-high vote count at age 23
In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid in a transfer worth €94 million (£80 million), then the most expensive association football transfer.
In 2009, Ronaldo donated £100,000 to the hospital in Madeira that saved his mother's life, to help them build a cancer centre.
During the 2010 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo scored only one goal but was named man of the match in all three group stage matches.
In 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 53 goals and helped Real Madrid win the Copa del Rey, which was his first trophy with the club.
In 2010, Ronaldo pledged to play in a charity match in Madeira to support the victims of the 2010 Madeira flood.
In 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo went trophyless for the first time since 2010.
In December 2011, Ronaldo launched an iPhone game called Heads Up with Cristiano, created by RockLive, marking his entry into the mobile gaming market.
In 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo finished runner-up to Lionel Messi in the FIFA Ballon d'Or.
In 2011-12, Cristiano Ronaldo was integral to Real Madrid winning a record-breaking La Liga title.
On 24 March 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th league goal for Real Madrid in a 5–1 win over Real Sociedad.
Since November 2012, Ronaldo has worn the Nike Mercurial Vapor personalised CR7 edition football boots, as part of his many sponsorship deals for consumer products.
In December 2012, Ronaldo joined FIFA's "11 for Health" programme to raise awareness among kids about avoiding drug addiction, HIV, malaria, and obesity.
Between 2012 and 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo finished as the Champions League's top scorer for six consecutive seasons while at Real Madrid.
In 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo was voted second in the running for the FIFA Ballon d'Or.
In 2012, Ronaldo commented on his rivalry with Messi, stating that they push each other in the competition, which is why the competition is so high.
In 2016-2017 Season, Cristiano Ronaldo helped Madrid to win their first La Liga title since 2012
In January 2013, Ronaldo became Save the Children's new Global Artist Ambassador, with the aim of helping fight child hunger and obesity.
In March 2013, Ronaldo agreed to be the ambassador for The Mangrove Care Forum in Indonesia, an organisation focused on raising awareness of mangrove conservation.
In November 2013, Ronaldo co-designed a range of underwear and sock line in partnership with JBS Textile Group and Richard Chai, marking his expansion into fashion.
In December 2013, Ronaldo launched Viva Ronaldo, a dedicated social networking website and app, to engage with his fans.
From 2013 onwards, under manager Carlo Ancelotti, Cristiano Ronaldo effectively adapted his style to the physical effects of ageing with increasingly reduced off-the-ball movement and general involvement, completing fewer dribbles and passes per game, and instead focusing on short-distance creating and goalscoring.
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo achieved the highest recorded jump in football history, measuring 2.93 metres, during a match against Manchester United.
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 69 goals and won the FIFA Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards.
On August 7, 2013, during the International Champions Cup Final between Real Madrid and Chelsea, Ronaldo first performed the "Siuuu" celebration after scoring a goal that gave Real Madrid a 2–1 lead. Real Madrid beat Chelsea 3–1 to claim the International Champions Cup.
In July 2014, Ronaldo expanded his CR7 fashion brand by launching a line of premium shirts and shoes, further establishing his presence in the fashion industry.
From 2014 to 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid win four Champions League titles, including La Décima.
In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo received the Ballon d'Or, joining Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten as a three-time recipient, after winning the FIFA Club World Cup.
In September 2015, Ronaldo released his own fragrance, "Legacy", in partnership with Eden Parfums, adding to his diverse brand portfolio.
On 12 September 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo became Real Madrid's all-time top scorer with 230 goals in 203 matches.
In 2015, Ronaldo was named the world's most charitable sportsperson after donating £5 million to the relief effort after the earthquake in Nepal which killed over 8,000 people.
In 2015, Ronaldo's number 7 Real Madrid shirt was the second best-selling worldwide, after Messi's number 10 Barcelona shirt.
In June 2016, Ronaldo donated his entire €600,000 Champions League bonus after Real Madrid won the competition.
In July 2016, following Portugal's Euro 2016 victory, Madeira Airport in Funchal was renamed Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport. This decision faced local opposition, leading to debates and a petition against the name change.
Cristiano Ronaldo reached the same goalscoring record as in 2016 after scoring 54 goals in all competitions for Al-Nassr and Portugal.
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards.
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or, his fourth, and the inaugural The Best FIFA Men's Player.
In April 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to reach 100 goals in UEFA club competition.
In 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded The Best FIFA Men's Player award for the second consecutive year and won the Ballon d'Or for the fifth time.
In 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards.
Since 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo adapted his style of play yet again to become more of a free-roaming centre forward under manager Zinedine Zidane, a role in which he continued to excel and maintain a prolific goalscoring record
On 3 April 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo scored an acrobatic bicycle kick goal against Juventus in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
In 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo had his most prolific World Cup campaign and was voted in the Fan Dream Team.
In 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus for €100 million.
In January 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo won his first trophy with Juventus, the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana.
In the 2018 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match and broke the record for the highest European goalscorer of all time. He was named in the World Cup Dream Team.
Cristiano Ronaldo won his first trophy with Juventus on 16 January 2019, the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana, after he scored the only goal from a header against AC Milan.
In August 2019, Ronaldo and Messi were interviewed together before the announcement of the UEFA Men's Player of the Year. Ronaldo stated that they pushed each other, and it's good to be part of the history of football.
On 6 January 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first Serie A hat-trick in a 4–0 home win against Cagliari.
In September 2020, Sporting CP's football academy in Alcochete was renamed Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, marking another recognition of his impact on the sport.
At Euro 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo received the Golden Boot as the top scorer.
In 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo received the Golden Boot as the top scorer of Euro 2020 and became the first player to score at five European Championships.
On 2 March 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal in a 3–0 win over Spezia in his 600th league match.
On 27 August 2021, Manchester United announced they had reached an agreement with Juventus to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United and was included in the PFA Team of the Year at 37 years old.
On 15 February 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo scored in United's 2–0 win at home versus Brighton & Hove Albion, his first in the new year.
In December 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo reached an agreement with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, signing a contract until 2025 and receiving the highest football salary ever.
In 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo's contract with Manchester United was terminated due to a fall out with the newly appointed manager.
In the 2022 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at five World Cups.
On January 22, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo debuted for Al-Nassr as club captain and played a full match. Later in January, he scored his first goal for the club in a draw against Al-Fateh.
On March 23, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace against Liechtenstein, earning his 197th cap to become the most capped male footballer of all time.
In September 2023, after 36 official fixtures and 15 years of "sharing the stage", Ronaldo declared that his rivalry with Messi was over and "gone".
Since October 26, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo, through the Portuguese company Expressão Livre, is part of the new owners of Medialivre, which includes Correio da Manhã, Record and Jornal de Negócios publisher.
In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 54 goals in all competitions for Al-Nassr and Portugal, making him the outright top scorer of the year.
In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Al-Nassr, a move widely credited for revolutionizing football in Saudi Arabia.
On May 27, 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 34th and 35th league goals in a home fixture, surpassing the record for most goals scored in a single Saudi Pro League season and becoming the first footballer to finish as top scorer in four different leagues.
On 21 August 2024, after announcing the creation of his YouTube channel, UR Cristiano, it became the fastest to reach the 1 million subscribers milestone in 90 minutes. The channel also became the fastest to reach 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 million subscribers and became the most subscribed channel in Portugal, surpassing the Portuguese Nick Jr.
In 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to feature in six European Championships and later scored his 900th career goal in a victory over Croatia.
In the 2024–25 season, Cristiano Ronaldo finished as the league's top scorer for a second consecutive time, scoring 25 league goals.
In 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo won the Nations League a second time.
Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social networking service owned...
Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer widely considered one...
Facebook is a social media and networking service created in...
Saudi Arabia officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia KSA is...
Carlo Ancelotti nicknamed Carletto and Don Carlo is a highly...
Serie A is the top-tier professional football league in Italy...
19 minutes ago Oregon establishes permanent statewide homeless shelter program with Gov. Kotek's signature on bill.
1 hour ago Frank Ocean Expands Homer Jewelry and Announces Directorial Debut with Taylor Russell.
1 hour ago Childcare solutions emerge in Kentwood, Nashville grapples with funding gaps, cost concerns.
1 hour ago Gary Payton II: Free Agency, Warriors Potential Landing Spot, Trade Rumors Surface
2 hours ago Arizona Woman Gets 8 Years for North Korea Laptop Farm Identity Theft Scheme
2 hours ago Trump Threatens Canada Trade Deal: 35% Tariff Looms, Exemptions Worry Businesses
John Michael Ozzy Osbourne is a prominent English singer songwriter...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Hulk Hogan born Terry Gene Bollea is a retired American...
Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...
Candace Owens is an American political commentator and author known...
Tulsi Gabbard is an American politician and military officer currently...