Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Cristiano Ronaldo
How Cristiano Ronaldo built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Cristiano Ronaldo, often nicknamed CR7, is a highly decorated Portuguese professional footballer currently playing for Al-Nassr and captaining the Portugal national team. Widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo's accomplishments include five Ballon d'Or awards, a record three UEFA Men's Player of the Year Awards, and four European Golden Shoes. He has won 33 trophies across his career, including league titles, five Champions Leagues, and the UEFA European Championship. Ronaldo holds records for most Champions League goals and assists, European Championship goals and assists, international appearances, and international goals. He is among the few players with over 1,200 professional appearances and has scored over 900 senior career goals, making him the all-time leading goalscorer.
1948: Ronaldo breaks record of oldest player to score 30 goals in one of the top five European leagues
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.
August 2002: First Official Match for Sporting CP
At age 17, on 14 August 2002, Ronaldo played his first official match for Sporting CP in a UEFA Champions League qualifying round against Inter Milan.
August 2003: Signs with Manchester United
On 12 August 2003, Manchester United signed Ronaldo for £12 million, an England record for a teenager.
August 2003: Premier League Debut
On 16 August 2003, Ronaldo made his debut as a substitute in a 4–0 home win over Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League.
August 2003: Impressed Alex Ferguson
On 6 August 2003, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was determined to acquire Ronaldo on a permanent move urgently, after Sporting defeated United 3–1 at the inauguration of the Estádio José Alvalade.
August 2003: Debut for Portugal
On August 20, 2003, at the age of 18, Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal as a substitute against Kazakhstan, marking the beginning of his international career.
2003: Signs with Manchester United
In 2003, Ronaldo began his senior career with Sporting CP before signing with Manchester United and winning the FA Cup in his first season.
2003: International Debut for Portugal
In 2003, at the age of 18, Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal.
May 2004: FA Cup Final Victory
On 15 May 2004, Ronaldo scored the opening goal in a victory against Aston Villa and later received the first red card of his career; and then scored the opening goal in United's 3–0 win over Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup Final.
2004: Support for Tsunami Survivor
Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Cristiano Ronaldo visited Aceh, Indonesia, to raise funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction after seeing a young survivor wearing a Portuguese football shirt.
2004: Wins Football League Cup
In 2004, Ronaldo won his second trophy in English football, the Football League Cup, after scoring the third goal in United's 4–0 final win over Wigan Athletic.
2005: Best Matches of the Season
At the start of 2005, Ronaldo played two of his best matches of the 2004–05 season, producing a goal and an assist against Aston Villa and scoring twice against rivals Arsenal.
2006: World Cup Controversy and Transfer Request
Following the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo publicly asked for a transfer after an incident involving club teammate Wayne Rooney. Despite being booed, he broke the 20-goal barrier and won his first Premier League title during the 2006–07 season.
2007: First Ballon d'Or
In 2007, Ronaldo's 2007-08 season earned him his first Ballon d'Or, aged 23.
January 2008: First Hat-Trick for United
In January 2008, Ronaldo scored his first hat-trick for Manchester United in a 6–0 win against Newcastle United.
2008: Donation to Charity in Madeira
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo donated undisclosed damages from a libel case against The Sun newspaper to a charity in Madeira.
2008: First Ballon d'Or Win
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or with a record-high vote count at age 23, marking a significant milestone in his career.
2008: Best-Selling Premier League Shirt
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo's number 7 Manchester United shirt was the best-selling Premier League sports product.
2009: Donation to Hospital in Madeira
In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo donated £100,000 to the hospital in Madeira that saved his mother's life to build a cancer center on the island.
2009: Signs with Real Madrid
In 2009, Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid in a transfer worth €94 million (£80 million), which was the most expensive association football transfer at the time.
2010: 2010 World Cup performance
During the 2010 World Cup qualifying and finals, Cristiano Ronaldo faced challenges in scoring goals. Although he scored only one goal in the finals, he was named man of the match in all three group stage matches against Ivory Coast, North Korea and Brazil.
2010: Support for Madeira Flood Victims
In 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo pledged to play in a charity match in Madeira to support the victims of the Madeira flood.
2010: Given No. 7 and Copa del Rey win
In 2010, Ronaldo was given No. 7 for the 2010–11 season and scored 53 goals, helping Madrid win the Copa del Rey. He also became the first player in La Liga to score 40 goals.
2010: Trophyless Season
In 2022, Ronaldo went trophyless for the first time since 2010.
September 2011: Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit Film Release
In September 2011, Castrol produced the television film Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit, which showcased Ronaldo's physical and mental tests, drawing scrutiny from the world media.
December 2011: Heads Up with Cristiano iPhone Game Launch
In December 2011, Ronaldo launched an iPhone game called Heads Up with Cristiano, created by RockLive.
2011: La Liga Title Win
In 2011-12, Real Madrid achieved a record-breaking La Liga title win with Ronaldo being integral.
March 2012: 100th League Goal for Madrid
On 24 March 2012, Ronaldo scored his 100th league goal for Real Madrid in a 5–1 win over Real Sociedad, breaking the previous club record.
November 2012: Wears Nike Mercurial Vapor CR7
Since November 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo has worn the Nike Mercurial Vapor personalized CR7 edition football boots as part of his sponsorship deals.
December 2012: Joins FIFA's '11 for Health' Programme
In December 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo joined FIFA's "11 for Health" program to raise awareness among kids on how to steer clear of conditions including drug addiction, HIV, malaria, and obesity.
2012: Named to Euro 2012 Team of the Tournament
At Euro 2012, Ronaldo was named to the team of the tournament.
2012: Champions League Top Scorer
Between 2012 and 2018, Ronaldo finished as the Champions League's top scorer for six consecutive seasons.
2012: Captaining Real Madrid
Following the 2012–13 winter break, Ronaldo captained Real Madrid for the first time in an official match on 6 January, scoring twice to lift 10-man Madrid to a 4–3 win over Sociedad.
2012: Victory in La Liga
In the 2016–17 season Ronaldo helped Madrid to win their first La Liga title since 2012.
January 2013: Save the Children Global Artist Ambassador
In January 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo became Save the Children's new Global Artist Ambassador, aiming to help fight child hunger and obesity.
March 2013: Ambassador for The Mangrove Care Forum
In March 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo agreed to be the ambassador for The Mangrove Care Forum in Indonesia, promoting mangrove conservation.
October 2013: Sepp Blatter's Comments and Ronaldo's Response
In October 2013, during a debate at Oxford Union, FIFA president Sepp Blatter made disparaging comments about Cristiano Ronaldo, leading to an apology from Real Madrid. Ronaldo responded with a mock-salute celebration after scoring a penalty against Sevilla.
November 2013: CR7 Underwear and Sock Line Release
In November 2013, Ronaldo, in partnership with JBS Textile Group and Richard Chai, released a range of underwear and sock line under his CR7 brand.
December 2013: Viva Ronaldo Social Networking Launch
In December 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo launched Viva Ronaldo, a dedicated social networking website and app.
2013: Adaptation under Carlo Ancelotti
From 2013 onwards, under manager Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo adapted his style to the physical effects of ageing with reduced off-the-ball movement and general involvement, focusing on short-distance creating and goalscoring.
2013: Highest Recorded Jump
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo achieved the highest recorded jump in football history, measuring 2.93 metres (9 ft 7 in), during a match against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League.
2013: Trademark "Siu" Celebration
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo began performing his trademark "Siu" celebration, involving a "storming jump", "turn", and landing in a "signature power stance" while exclaiming "Sí". This celebration gained widespread popularity and imitation.
2013: FIFA Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year
In 2013, Ronaldo scored 69 goals and won the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or, and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, for the first time in his career.
2013: Wins Ballon d'Or Award
In 2013, Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards in 2013 and 2014, and again in 2016 and 2017, and was runner-up three times behind Lionel Messi.
June 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet Documentary Release
In June 2014, the documentary Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet, narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, was released via Vimeo.
July 2014: CR7 Fashion Brand Expansion
In July 2014, Ronaldo expanded his CR7 fashion brand, launching a line of premium shirts and shoes.
2014: Champions League Win
From 2014 to 2018, Ronaldo was integral to Madrid winning four Champions Leagues, including La Décima.
2014: 2014 Ballon d'Or
In 2014, after winning the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, Ronaldo received the 2014 Ballon d'Or, joining Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten as a three-time recipient.
September 2015: Legacy Fragrance Release
In September 2015, Ronaldo released his own fragrance, "Legacy", in partnership with Eden Parfums.
September 2015: Real Madrid's All-Time Top Scorer
On 12 September 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo became Real Madrid's all-time top scorer against Espanyol, netting 230 goals in 203 matches, surpassing the previous record holder, Raúl.
November 2015: Ronaldo Documentary Film Release
On November 9, 2015, a documentary film directed by Anthony Wonke about Cristiano Ronaldo's life and career, titled Ronaldo, was released.
2015: Most Charitable Sportsperson
In 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo was named the world's most charitable sportsperson after donating £5 million to relief efforts following the earthquake in Nepal.
2015: Second Best-Selling Football Shirt
In 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo's number 7 Real Madrid shirt was the second best-selling worldwide, after Messi's number 10 Barcelona shirt.
June 2016: Champions League Bonus Donation
In June 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo donated his entire €600,000 Champions League bonus after Real Madrid won the competition.
2016: Wins Ballon d'Or Award
In 2016, Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards in 2013 and 2014, and again in 2016 and 2017, and was runner-up three times behind Lionel Messi.
2017: Wins Ballon d'Or Award
In 2017, Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards in 2013 and 2014, and again in 2016 and 2017, and was runner-up three times behind Lionel Messi.
2017: The Best FIFA Men's Player Award for the second year
On 23 October, Ronaldo's performances throughout 2017 saw him awarded The Best FIFA Men's Player award for the second consecutive year.
2017: Free-Roaming Centre Forward Role
Since 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo adapted his style of play again to become more of a free-roaming centre forward under manager Zinedine Zidane, maintaining a prolific goalscoring record and earning praise for his intelligent movement.
April 2018: Bicycle Kick Goal Against Juventus
On 3 April 2018, Ronaldo scored an acrobatic bicycle kick against Juventus in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, earning a standing ovation from the opposing fans.
2018: ESPN's Most Famous Athlete and Juventus Shirt Sales
In 2018, ESPN named Cristiano Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete. Also, within 24 hours of his number 7 Juventus shirt being released, over 520,000 were sold, generating $62.4 million in one day.
2018: Prolific World Cup Campaign
In 2018, Ronaldo had his most prolific World Cup campaign and was voted in the Fan Dream Team.
2018: Joins Juventus
In 2018, Ronaldo joined Juventus for €100 million, the highest transfer fee ever for a player over 30 years old and the highest paid by an Italian club.
2018: 2018 World Cup Hat-trick and Record
In the 2018 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match, during a 3–3 draw against Spain. He also broke Puskás' record as the highest European goalscorer of all time, with 85 international goals.
2018: Supercoppa Italiana Win
On 16 January 2019, Ronaldo won his first trophy with Juventus, the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana, after scoring the only goal against AC Milan.
January 2019: Supercoppa Italiana Win
On 16 January 2019, Ronaldo won his first trophy with Juventus, the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana, after scoring the only goal against AC Milan.
January 2020: First Serie A Hat-Trick
On 6 January 2020, Ronaldo scored his first Serie A hat-trick in a 4–0 home win against Cagliari and became only the second player to score hat-tricks in the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A.
2020: Euro 2020 Golden Boot
In 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo received the Golden Boot as top scorer of Euro 2020, also becoming the first player to score at five European Championships.
March 2021: Scored in 600th league match
On 2 March 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal in a 3–0 win over Spezia in his 600th league match, to become the first player to score at least 20 goals in 12 consecutive seasons in the top five leagues of Europe.
August 2021: Agreement to Re-sign with Manchester United
On 27 August 2021, Manchester United announced they had reached an agreement with Juventus to re-sign Ronaldo, subject to agreement of personal terms, visa and medical.
2021: Returns to Manchester United
In 2021, Ronaldo returned to Manchester United; his individual performances earned him inclusion in the PFA Team of the Year at 37 years old.
February 2022: First Goal of the New Year
On 15 February 2022, Ronaldo scored in United's 2–0 win at home versus Brighton & Hove Albion, his first in the new year.
December 2022: Agreement with Al-Nassr
In December 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo reached an agreement with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, signing a contract until 2025 with a record-breaking salary of €200 million per year.
2022: Leaves Manchester United
In 2022, Ronaldo's contract was terminated due to a fallout with the newly appointed manager.
2022: Scores at Fifth World Cup
In the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo became the first player to score at five World Cups.
January 2023: Debut for Al-Nassr
On January 22, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo debuted for Al-Nassr as club captain, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win. This marked a significant milestone in his career after joining the Saudi Arabian club.
March 2023: Most Capped Male Footballer
On March 23, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace against Liechtenstein, earning his 197th overall cap and becoming the most capped male footballer of all time.
October 2023: Investment in Medialivre
Since October 26, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo, through his Portuguese company Expressão Livre, became part of a group of investors in the new owners of Medialivre, the publisher of Correio da Manhã, Record, and Jornal de Negócios.
2023: Signs with Al-Nassr
In 2023, Ronaldo signed for Al-Nassr, a move credited for revolutionizing football in Saudi Arabia.
May 2024: Surpassing League Goals Record
On May 27, 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 34th and 35th league goals of the campaign in Al-Nassr's home fixture against Al-Ittihad, surpassing Abderrazak Hamdallah's record for the most goals scored in a single Saudi Pro League season.
August 2024: UR Cristiano YouTube Channel Launch
On August 21, 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel, UR Cristiano, which quickly became the fastest to reach various subscriber milestones, including 1 million subscribers in 90 minutes.
2024: First Player in Six European Championships
In 2024, with his start in Portugal's UEFA Euro 2024 opener against the Czech Republic, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to feature in six European Championships.
2025: Appearance in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
In 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo appears as a playable character in the fighting game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
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