Challenges Faced by Cristiano Ronaldo: Obstacles and Turning Points

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Cristiano Ronaldo. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Cristiano Ronaldo, nicknamed CR7, is a Portuguese professional footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. He currently plays for Al Nassr and captains the Portugal national team. His accolades include five Ballon d'Or awards, a record three UEFA Men's Player of the Year Awards, and four European Golden Shoes. Ronaldo has won 33 trophies, including seven league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, and the UEFA European Championship. He holds records for most Champions League goals (140) and assists (42), European Championship goals (14) and assists (8), and most international appearances (219) and goals (136). He is one of the few players to exceed 1,200 professional appearances and has scored over 900 official senior career goals, making him the all-time top goalscorer.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

2000: Last Knockout Game Started

The 2022 World Cup marked the first time since Euro 2000 that Portugal had started a knockout game without Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting line-up at an international tournament.

2005: Rape Allegation Investigation and Withdrawal

In 2005, Cristiano Ronaldo and another man were investigated by the British Crown Prosecution Service after a rape allegation was brought forward by two women; the women later withdrew their allegations, and Scotland Yard declared there was not enough evidence for a prosecution.

2006: Involvement in Incidents

During his third season in England in 2006, Ronaldo was involved in incidents including a clash with Ruud van Nistelrooy and the World Cup altercation with Wayne Rooney, leading to transfer requests but ultimately a break-out year.

2006: Youngest Goalscorer for Portugal at World Cup

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo became the youngest ever goalscorer for Portugal at a World Cup finals. He was overlooked for the tournament's Best Young Player award.

2008: Last Started Game

The 2022 World Cup marked the first time since Euro 2008 that Cristiano Ronaldo had not started a game for Portugal in a major international tournament.

2009: Alleged Rape Incident

In 2009, an alleged rape incident occurred, leading to investigations and lawsuits against Cristiano Ronaldo in subsequent years.

2010: Trophyless Season

As a result of United finishing in a disappointing sixth place and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League in 2022, Ronaldo went trophyless for the first time since 2010.

2011: Start of Tax Evasion Period

In 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo was investigated for fraudulently evading almost €15 million in tax, and the period under investigation lasted from 2011 to 2014.

2014: End of Tax Evasion Period

In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo was investigated for fraudulently evading almost €15 million in tax, and the period under investigation lasted from 2011 to 2014.

April 2017: Las Vegas Police Investigation into Rape Allegation

In April 2017, it was reported that Cristiano Ronaldo was being investigated by the Las Vegas Police Department for an allegation by a woman that he had raped her in 2009.

July 2017: Tax Evasion Charge

In July 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo was charged with fraudulently evading almost €15 million in tax between 2011 and 2014, a claim he denied at the time.

June 2018: Suspended Jail Sentence and Fine for Tax Evasion

In June 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo received a two-year suspended jail sentence and was fined €18.8 million (later reduced to €16.8 million) after reaching a deal with Spanish authorities for tax evasion.

September 2018: Civil Lawsuit Filed Accusing Ronaldo of Rape

In September 2018, the same woman who accused Cristiano Ronaldo of rape filed a civil lawsuit in Nevada, seeking £56 million in damages.

2018: Joining Juventus

In 2018, Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian opined that Cristiano Ronaldo had made Juventus weaker, due to "his relative immobility" in his mid-30s, even if his personal goal-scoring output remained high.

2022: Loss of Male Twin During Childbirth

In 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez were expecting twins, but the male twin died during childbirth while the female twin survived.

2022: Contract Termination

In 2022, Ronaldo's contract with Manchester United was terminated due to a fallout with the newly appointed manager.

2022: First Player to Score at Five World Cups

In the 2022 World Cup, on November 24, 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at five World Cups, netting a penalty against Ghana. He was later dropped from the starting lineup due to a dispute with the manager.