Major Controversies Surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo: A Detailed Timeline

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

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

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.

July 2008: Libel Damages Over Drinking Allegation

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.

2009: Alleged Rape Incident

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

2010: Non-Disclosure Settlement

In 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly paid a woman US$375,000 in a non-disclosure settlement related to the alleged rape incident.

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.

2012: High Probability of Unsafe Internet Searches

In 2012, a McAfee report ranked Cristiano Ronaldo's name first on the list of footballers with the highest probability of an internet search for their name leading to an unsafe website.

October 2013: Sepp Blatter's Comments and Real Madrid's response

In October 2013, during an Oxford Union debate, FIFA president Sepp Blatter made comments about Cristiano Ronaldo's appearance, leading to Real Madrid demanding and receiving an apology. Ronaldo responded with a mock salute after scoring a goal.

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.

March 2017: Unveiling of Rebranded Airport and Bust

On March 29, 2017, the rebranded Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport was unveiled, including a bust of his head, which became controversial due to its lack of likeness to Ronaldo.

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.

July 2019: Las Vegas Prosecutors Decline to Charge Ronaldo

In July 2019, Las Vegas prosecutors announced they would not charge Cristiano Ronaldo over allegations of rape due to insufficient evidence.

October 2021: Recommendation to Dismiss Rape Lawsuit

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

June 2022: Rape Lawsuit Dismissed with Prejudice

In June 2022, the woman's rape lawsuit against Cristiano Ronaldo was dismissed with prejudice in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada due to the lawyer's repeated use of cyber-hacked attorney-client privileged documents.