Major Controversies Surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo: A Detailed Timeline

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

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.

Sections (7)

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

2005: Rape Allegation 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, but the women withdrew their allegation and Scotland Yard declared there was not enough evidence for a prosecution.

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.

July 2008: Libel Damages Over Drinking Report

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

2012: Unsafe Website Probability

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

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.

March 2017: Unveiling of Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport

On March 29, 2017, the rebranded Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport was unveiled, including a bust of his head. The bust received criticism for not resembling Ronaldo.

April 2017: Las Vegas Police Investigation

In April 2017, it was reported that 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 Charges

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

June 2018: Suspended Jail Sentence and Fine for Tax Evasion

In June 2018, 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 between 2011 and 2014.

September 2018: Civil Lawsuit Filed in Nevada

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

2018: Criticism of immobility with Juventus

In 2018, after joining Juventus at the age of 33, Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian opined that Cristiano Ronaldo had made Juventus weaker due to "his relative immobility" in his mid-30s.

July 2019: Las Vegas Prosecutors Decline Charges

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

October 2021: Lawsuit Dismissal Recommendation

In October 2021, federal magistrate judge Daniel Albregts recommended that the woman's lawsuit be dismissed, citing the woman's lawyer's bad faith use of Football Leaks documents and finding no evidence of intimidation by Ronaldo's lawyers during the 2010 settlement.

June 2022: Rape Lawsuit Dismissed

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