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 called CR7, is a Portuguese professional footballer renowned as one of the greatest players ever. He currently captains both Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team as a forward. His achievements include five Ballon d'Or awards, a record three UEFA Men's Player of the Year Awards, and four European Golden Shoes. Ronaldo has secured 33 trophies, including seven league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, and one UEFA European Championship. He holds records for most Champions League goals (140) and assists (42), European Championship goals (14) and assists (8), and international appearances (219) and goals (136). Surpassing 900 official senior career goals, Ronaldo stands as the top goalscorer of all time.
1992: Playing for Andorinha
From 1992 to 1995, as a child, Ronaldo played for Andorinha, where his father was the kit man.
1995: Playing for Andorinha
From 1992 to 1995, as a child, Ronaldo played for Andorinha, where his father was the kit man.
1997: Signing with Sporting CP
In 1997, at age 12, Ronaldo went on a three-day trial and was signed by Sporting CP for £1,500, leading him to move from Madeira to Lisbon.
2000: Starting Line-Up
In 2022, following a dispute with manager Fernando Santos, Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped from the starting line-up for Portugal's last 16 match, marking the first time since Euro 2000 that Portugal had started a knockout game without Ronaldo in the starting line-up at an international tournament .
August 2002: First Official Match for Sporting CP
On 14 August 2002, at age 17, Ronaldo played his first official match for Sporting CP's first team in a UEFA Champions League qualifying round against Inter Milan.
August 2003: Debut for Portugal
In August 2003, at the age of 18, Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal as a substitute against Kazakhstan.
August 2003: Signing with Manchester United
On 12 August 2003, Manchester United signed Ronaldo for £12 million, an England record for a teenager, making him the first Portuguese player to sign for the club.
2003: Manchester United Signing and FA Cup win
In 2003, Ronaldo began his senior career with Sporting CP, then signed with Manchester United, winning the FA Cup in his first season with the club.
2003: International Debut for Portugal
In 2003, at the age of 18, Cristiano Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal.
May 2004: FA Cup Final Victory
On 15 May 2004, in a victory against Aston Villa, Ronaldo scored the opening goal and later received the first red card of his career. He also scored the opening goal in United's 3–0 win over Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup Final.
2004: Best Matches of the Season and Football League Cup Win
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. Ronaldo also won the Football League Cup, after scoring the third goal in United's 4–0 final win over Wigan Athletic.
2004: Aid to Tsunami Victims
Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Cristiano Ronaldo visited Aceh, Indonesia, to raise funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction after seeing a survivor wearing a Portuguese football shirt.
2005: Best Matches of the Season and Football League Cup Win
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. Ronaldo also won the Football League Cup, after scoring the third goal in United's 4–0 final win over Wigan Athletic.
2006: PFA and FWA Honors
During the 2006–07 season, Cristiano Ronaldo amassed a host of personal awards for the season, winning 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.
2006: World Cup Incident with Rooney and Transfer Request
Following the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in which he was involved in an incident where club teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off, Ronaldo publicly asked for a transfer. However, he broke the 20-goal barrier for the first time and won his first Premier League title in the 2006-07 season.
2006: Youngest Goalscorer for Portugal at World Cup
In 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo became the youngest goalscorer for Portugal at a World Cup finals, although he faced booing and missed out on the Best Young Player award.
2006: CR7 Boutique Opening in Madeira
In 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo opened a fashion boutique under the name CR7 on the island of Madeira.
2007: Ballon d'Or Runner-Up and FIFA World Player of the Year Third Place
In 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo was named runner-up to Kaká for the Ballon d'Or, and came third, behind Kaká and Lionel Messi, in the running for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
2007: Publication of Moments
In 2007, Ronaldo's autobiography, titled Moments, was published.
2007: First Ballon d'Or
In the 2007-08 season, Ronaldo's performance earned him his first Ballon d'Or at age 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: First Ballon d'Or
Cristiano Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 by a record-high vote count at age 23.
2008: Appearing on Pro Evolution Soccer Cover
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo appeared on the cover of Pro Evolution Soccer game.
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: CR7 Boutique Opening in Lisbon
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo opened a second CR7 fashion boutique in Lisbon.
2008: Dropping from Starting Line-Up
In 2022, following a dispute with manager Fernando Santos, Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped from the starting line-up for Portugal's last 16 match, marking the first time since Euro 2008 that he had not started a game for Portugal in a major international tournament.
2009: Donation to Madeira Hospital
In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo donated £100,000 to the hospital in Madeira that saved his mother's life, so they could build a cancer center on the island.
2009: Real Madrid Transfer
In 2009, Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid for €94 million, making it the then-most expensive association football transfer.
2009: Transfer to Real Madrid
In 2009, Ronaldo transferred to Real Madrid for a then world record £80 million, with 80,000 fans attending his presentation.
2010: 2010 World Cup
At the 2010 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo scored only one goal but was named man of the match in all three group stage matches.
2010: Given No. 7 and Copa del Rey Win
In 2010, Ronaldo was given the No. 7 for the 2010–11 season, scored 53 goals, and helped Real Madrid win the Copa del Rey against Barcelona.
2010: Support for Madeira Flood Victims
In 2010, in support of the victims of the Madeira flood, Cristiano Ronaldo pledged to play in a charity match in Madeira between Primeira Liga club Porto and players from Madeiran-based clubs Marítimo and Nacional.
2010: Trophyless Season
In 2022 Ronaldo finished the season trophyless for the first time since 2010.
September 2011: Release of Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit
In September 2011, Ronaldo's sponsor Castrol produced the television film Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit, which tested his physical and mental abilities.
December 2011: Heads Up with Cristiano Game Launch
In December 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo launched an iPhone game called Heads Up with Cristiano, created by developer RockLive.
2011: Runner-up Finish in FIFA Ballon d'Or
In 2011, Ronaldo scored 60 goals across all competitions, leading Real Madrid to their first league title in four years but finishing as runner-up to Lionel Messi in the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or.
2011: Record-Breaking La Liga Title Win
In the 2011-12 season, Ronaldo won a record-breaking La Liga title with Real Madrid.
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 held by Ferenc Puskás.
November 2012: Nike Mercurial Vapor CR7 Edition
Since November 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo has worn the Nike Mercurial Vapor personalised 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" programme to raise awareness among kids about avoiding drug addiction, HIV, malaria, and obesity.
2012: Champions League Top Scorer
Between 2012 and 2018, Ronaldo finished as the Champions League's top scorer for six consecutive seasons.
2012: First time as captain for 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: La Liga title with Real Madrid
In the 2016-17 season, Ronaldo helped Real Madrid to win their first La Liga title since 2012.
January 2013: Global Artist Ambassador for Save the Children
In January 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo became Save the Children's new Global Artist Ambassador, with the aim of fighting 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, an organization focused on mangrove conservation awareness.
November 2013: Release of Underwear and Sock Line
In November 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo, in partnership with JBS Textile Group and Richard Chai, released a range of underwear and sock line.
December 2013: Viva Ronaldo Launch
In December 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo launched Viva Ronaldo, a dedicated social networking website and app.
2013: Tactical Role
From 2013 onwards, under manager Carlo Ancelotti, Cristiano Ronaldo 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.
2013: Back-to-Back Ballon d'Or Awards
In 2013 and 2014, Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards.
2013: Appearing on Pro Evolution Soccer Cover
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo appeared on the cover of Pro Evolution Soccer game.
2013: Signature 'Sí' Celebration
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo began performing his signature goal celebration, which involves a "storming jump" and "turn", landing in a "spread-eagled fashion" into his "signature power stance", while exclaiming "Sí". The celebration, dubbed the "Siu" or siuuu, has become widely imitated and is considered an iconic association football celebration.
2013: FIFA Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year
In 2013, Ronaldo won the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award for the first time in his career after scoring 69 goals.
June 2014: Release of Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet
In June 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet, a documentary narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, was released via Vimeo.
July 2014: CR7 Fashion Brand Expansion
In July 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo expanded his CR7 fashion brand by launching a line of premium shirts and shoes.
2014: Champions League Win
From 2014 to 2018, Ronaldo was integral to Real Madrid as they won four Champions Leagues.
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, Cristiano 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.
November 2015: Release of Ronaldo Documentary
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 the relief effort following the earthquake in Nepal, which killed over 8,000 people.
June 2016: Donates Champions League Bonus
In June 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo donated his entire €600,000 Champions League bonus after Real Madrid won the competition.
2016: Back-to-Back Ballon d'Or Awards
In 2016 and 2017, Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards.
2016: Top Scorer Record
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo reached the same goalscoring record as in 2023, showcasing his consistent performance.
2016: Euro Championship Title and Silver Boot
In 2016, Ronaldo led Portugal to their first major tournament title at Euro 2016, received the Silver Boot as the second-highest goalscorer, and was named in the team of the tournament for the third time. This achievement saw him receive his fourth Ballon d'Or.
2016: First Player to Reach 100 Goals in UEFA Club Competition
In April 2017 in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern, Ronaldo became the first player to reach 100 goals in UEFA club competition. In May 2017, he overtook Jimmy Greaves as the all-time top scorer in the top five European leagues.
2017: Back-to-Back Ballon d'Or Awards
In 2016 and 2017, Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards.
2017: The Best FIFA Men's Player and Ballon d'Or
In 2017, Ronaldo was awarded The Best FIFA Men's Player award for the second consecutive year and won the 2017 Ballon d'Or for the fifth time.
2017: Style Adaptation
Since 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo adapted his style of play yet again to become more of a free-roaming centre forward under manager Zinedine Zidane.
April 2018: "PlayStation goal" against Juventus
On 3 April 2018, Ronaldo scored an acrobatic bicycle kick, described as a "PlayStation goal", against Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals, earning a standing ovation from the opposing fans.
2018: 2018 World Cup Hat-trick and Record
At the 2018 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match and broke Puskás' record as the highest European goalscorer of all time.
2018: Most Prolific World Cup Campaign
In 2018, Ronaldo had his most prolific World Cup campaign and was voted in the Fan Dream Team.
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, becoming 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 and became the first player to score at five European Championships.
March 2021: 600th League Match
On 2 March 2021, Ronaldo scored in a 3–0 win over Spezia in his 600th league match, becoming the first player to score at least 20 goals in 12 consecutive seasons in the top five leagues of Europe.
August 2021: Re-signs 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: Return to Manchester United and PFA Team of the Year Inclusion
In 2021, Ronaldo returned to Manchester United, and his individual performances earned him inclusion in the PFA Team of the Year at 37 years old.
February 2022: First Goal of the 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 and receiving the highest football salary ever.
2022: Contract Termination with Manchester United
In 2022, Ronaldo's contract with Manchester United was terminated following a fall out with the newly appointed manager.
2022: Messi Wins FIFA World Cup 2022
In 2022, after Lionel Messi led Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup, many football critics, commentators, and players suggested that Messi had settled the debate between the two players.
2022: Scoring at Five World Cups
In the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo became the first player to score at five World Cups.
2022: First Player to Score at Five World Cups
In the 2022 World Cup, on November 24, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at five World Cups, netting a penalty against Ghana.
January 2023: Debut and First Goal for Al-Nassr
In January 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut for Al-Nassr as club captain and scored his first goal in a draw against Al-Fateh.
March 2023: Most Capped Male Footballer of All Time
On March 23, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo became the most capped male footballer of all time after earning his 197th overall cap against Liechtenstein.
October 2023: Investment in Medialivre
Since October 26 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo, through Portuguese company Expressão Livre, became part of a group of investors who are the new owners of Medialivre (Correio da Manhã, Record and Jornal de Negócios publisher).
2023: Top Scorer
In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 54 goals in all competitions for Al-Nassr and Portugal, making him the outright top scorer, reaching the same goalscoring record as in 2016.
2023: Signing with Al-Nassr
In 2023, Ronaldo signed for Al-Nassr, a move credited for revolutionizing football in Saudi Arabia.
May 2024: Breaks Saudi Pro League Scoring Record
In May 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. He also became the first footballer to finish as top scorer in four different leagues.
2024: First Player to Feature in Six European Championships
In 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to feature in six European Championships. Later that year, he scored his 900th career goal in a 2–1 victory over Croatia in the UEFA Nations League.
2025: Appearance in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
In 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo will appear as a playable character in the fighting game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
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