Major Controversies Surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo: A Detailed Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 2, 2026

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo, widely considered one of the greatest footballers, captains both Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team. He boasts an impressive array of individual awards, including five Ballon d'Ors and a record three UEFA Men's Player of the Year Awards. His trophy cabinet includes five UEFA Champions League titles and a UEFA European Championship. Ronaldo holds numerous records, such as the most Champions League goals (140) and assists (42), European Championship goals (14) and assists (8), and international appearances (226) and goals (143). He is the only player to score 100+ goals for four different clubs and is the all-time leading goalscorer with over 960 senior career goals.

Sections (7)

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

2000: Didn't start a knockout game since Euro 2000

In 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.

2005: Rape Allegation and Investigation

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: World Cup Controversy and Transfer Request

In 2006, Ronaldo was involved in an incident with Wayne Rooney during the FIFA World Cup and publicly requested a transfer, but Manchester United denied his request. Despite being booed, he had a break-out year.

July 2008: Libel Damages Over Drinking Article

In July 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo received libel damages over a Daily Mirror article that reported him drinking heavily in a nightclub while recovering from an injury.

2008: Didn't start for Portugal in major tournament since Euro 2008

In the 2022 World Cup, 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: Rape Allegation

In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo was accused of rape, which led to an investigation by the Las Vegas Police Department in April 2017.

2010: 2010 Settlement

In 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo's lawyers made a settlement with a woman. In October 2021, a federal magistrate judge stated that no evidence was found of Ronaldo's lawyers having intimidated the woman or impeded law enforcement during the 2010 settlement with her.

2011: Start of Tax Evasion Period

Cristiano Ronaldo was later accused of tax evasion starting in 2011 and lasting up to 2014.

2014: End of Tax Evasion Period

Cristiano Ronaldo's period of alleged tax evasion ended in 2014. He was later charged with fraudulently evading almost €15 million in tax between 2011 and 2014.

April 2017: Investigation by Las Vegas Police Department

In April 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo was reported to be under investigation by the Las Vegas Police Department for a 2009 rape allegation. Documents confirmed by Ronaldo's lawyers stated he paid a woman US$375,000 in a non-disclosure settlement.

July 2017: Tax Evasion Charges

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 was given a two-year suspended jail sentence and fined €18.8 million (later reduced to €16.8 million) after reaching a deal with Spanish authorities for tax evasion. The sentence was served under probation.

September 2018: Civil Lawsuit Filed in Nevada

In September 2018, the woman accusing Cristiano Ronaldo of rape filed a civil lawsuit in Nevada.

July 2019: Las Vegas Prosecutors Decline to Charge

In July 2019, Las Vegas prosecutors announced they would not charge Cristiano Ronaldo over the rape allegations, stating that the allegations could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

October 2021: Lawsuit Dismissal Recommended

In October 2021, federal magistrate judge Daniel Albregts recommended that the rape lawsuit against Cristiano Ronaldo be dismissed due to the woman's lawyer's unethical use of Football Leaks documents.

2021: Woman Seeks Damages from Ronaldo

In 2021, court documents reported that the woman who accused Cristiano Ronaldo of rape sought £56 million in damages from him.

June 2022: Rape Lawsuit Dismissed

In June 2022, the rape lawsuit against Cristiano Ronaldo was dismissed with prejudice in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, due to the plaintiff's lawyer's abuse of privileged documents.

2022: Scoring at Five World Cups

On 24 November 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 line-up for Portugal's last 16 match after a dispute with manager Fernando Santos.