History of Cristiano Ronaldo in Timeline
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.
1948: Ronnie Rooke with Arsenal
In 2020, Ronaldo became the oldest player, at the age of 35 years and 166 days, to score over 30 goals in one of the five top European leagues since Ronnie Rooke with Arsenal in 1948.
February 1985: Cristiano Ronaldo's Birth
On February 1985, Cristiano Ronaldo was born as Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
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.
September 2005: Death of Father
In September 2005, Cristiano Ronaldo's father, José, died at age 52 due to an alcoholism-related liver condition, when Ronaldo was 20 years old.
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.
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. The women later withdrew their allegation, and Scotland Yard stated there was not enough evidence for a prosecution.
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: C.D. Nacional Renames Youth Campus
In 2007, C.D. Nacional renamed its youth campus Cristiano Ronaldo Campus Futebol (Cristiano Ronaldo Football Campus).
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.
July 2008: Libel Damages Over Drinking Report
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: 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: Best-Selling Premier League Shirt
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo's number 7 Manchester United shirt was the best-selling Premier League sports product.
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.
June 2010: Waxwork at Madame Tussauds London
In June 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo became the fourth footballer to be represented as a waxwork at Madame Tussauds London.
June 2010: Birth of Cristiano Ronaldo Jr.
On June 17, 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo became a father to a son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., who was born in the United States. Ronaldo has full custody of the child and has not publicly revealed the identity of the mother.
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: Ranked Among Decade's Highest-Paid Athletes
From 2010 to 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo earned €720 million (£615 million), ranking second in Forbes' list of the decade's highest-paid athletes, behind Floyd Mayweather Jr.
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: Euro Team of the Tournament
At Euro 2012, Ronaldo was named to the team of the tournament.
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: Ronaldo Comments on Messi Rivalry
In 2012, Ronaldo discussed his rivalry with Lionel Messi, stating that they push each other in competition, contributing to the high level of competition. He also mentioned that while they don't have a personal relationship outside of football, he hopes they can laugh about the rivalry in the future.
2012: Most Dangerous Internet Search Result
In 2012, computer security company McAfee reported that Cristiano Ronaldo's name was the most likely football player's name to lead to an unsafe website when searched online.
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.
October 2013: Blatter's Comments and Ronaldo's Response
In October 2013, during a debate at Oxford Union, FIFA president Sepp Blatter made comments about Cristiano Ronaldo, implying he spends more on his hairdresser than Lionel Messi. In response, Ronaldo issued a mock-salute celebration after scoring a penalty against Sevilla.
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.
December 2013: Museu CR7 Opening
In December 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo opened Museu CR7, a museum in his hometown of Funchal, Madeira, to house trophies and memorabilia. The museum is an official sponsor of the local football team União da Madeira.
December 2013: Waxwork at Madrid Wax Museum
In December 2013, another waxwork of Cristiano Ronaldo was presented at the Madrid Wax Museum.
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: Forbes Ranking as Highest-Paid Footballer
In 2013, Forbes ranked Cristiano Ronaldo first on its list of the world's highest-paid football players, with a combined income of $73 million from salaries, bonuses, and endorsements in 2013–14.
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.
May 2014: Most Marketable Football Player
In May 2014, Sports market research company Repucom named Cristiano Ronaldo the most marketable and most recognized football player in the world.
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.
December 2014: Bronze Statue Unveiled in Funchal
On December 21, 2014, a bronze statue of Cristiano Ronaldo, designed by artist Ricardo Madeira Veloso, was unveiled in Funchal.
2014: Champions League Win
From 2014 to 2018, Ronaldo was integral to Real Madrid as they won four Champions Leagues.
2014: Forbes Ranking as Highest-Paid Footballer
In 2013, Forbes ranked Cristiano Ronaldo first on its list of the world's highest-paid football players, with a combined income of $73 million from salaries, bonuses, and endorsements in 2013–14.
2014: Named in Time 100
In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo was named in the Time 100, Time's annual list of the most influential people in the world.
2014: Inclusion in Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2014, Time included Cristiano Ronaldo on their list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
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.
January 2015: End of Relationship with Irina Shayk
In January 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo's five-year relationship with Russian model Irina Shayk ended.
June 2015: Galaxy Named After Ronaldo
In June 2015, astronomers led by David Sobral from Lisbon and Leiden discovered a galaxy which they named Cosmos Redshift 7 (CR7) in tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo.
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: UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year
In 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo was named in the UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year.
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.
2015: Second Best-Selling Football Shirt Worldwide
In 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo's number 7 Real Madrid shirt was the second best-selling worldwide, after Lionel Messi's number 10 Barcelona shirt.
2015: Best Portuguese Player of All Time
In 2015, Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of all time by the Portuguese Football Federation.
2015: First Footballer to Top Forbes List
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer to top the Forbes list of highest-earning athletes, with a total income of $88 million from salary and endorsements in 2015–16.
June 2016: Sponsors Earn Millions in Media Value
Between June 2016 and June 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo's sponsors earned $936 million in media value across his social media accounts.
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: First Footballer to Top Forbes List
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer to top the Forbes list of highest-earning athletes, with a total income of $88 million from salary and endorsements in 2015–16.
2016: Top Scorer Record
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo reached the same goalscoring record as in 2023, showcasing his consistent performance.
2016: World's Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes and the world's most famous athlete by ESPN.
2016: Named World's Most Famous Athlete by ESPN
In 2016, ESPN named Cristiano Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete.
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.
March 2017: Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport Unveiling
On March 29, 2017, the rebranded Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport was unveiled, which included a bust of his head. The bust and the name change were met with controversy due to the bust's lack of likeness to Ronaldo.
April 2017: Las Vegas Police Investigation
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.
June 2017: Sponsors Earn Millions in Media Value
Between June 2016 and June 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo's sponsors earned $936 million in media value across his social media accounts.
June 2017: Birth of Twins via Surrogacy
In June 8 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo became a father to twins, born in the United States via surrogacy.
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.
November 2017: Birth of Daughter with Georgina Rodríguez
On November 12, 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo's partner, Georgina Rodríguez, gave birth to a daughter.
2017: Back-to-Back Ballon d'Or Awards
In 2016 and 2017, Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards.
2017: World's Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes
In 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes.
2017: Named World's Most Famous Athlete by ESPN
In 2017, ESPN named Cristiano Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete.
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.
June 2018: Suspended Jail Sentence and Fine
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.
June 2018: New Bust Commissioned
In June 2018, after the initial bust of Cristiano Ronaldo at the Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport was heavily criticized, sports website Bleacher Report commissioned sculptor Emanuel Santos to create another bust; however, this bust was never used and a new one was made by a Spanish sculptor, shown to the public on June 15, 2018.
September 2018: Civil Lawsuit Filed in Nevada
In September 2018, the woman accusing Cristiano Ronaldo of rape filed a civil lawsuit in Nevada.
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: Named World's Most Famous Athlete by ESPN
In 2018, ESPN named Cristiano Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete.
2018: Most Prolific World Cup Campaign
In 2018, Ronaldo had his most prolific World Cup campaign and was voted in the Fan Dream Team.
2018: Ranking
In a 2018 article for Bleacher Report, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked first in the ranking of the 50 most influential people in sports culture for 2018.
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.
July 2019: No Charges Filed in Rape Allegation
In July 2019, Las Vegas prosecutors said they would not charge Cristiano Ronaldo over allegations of rape, stating that the allegations could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
August 2019: Ronaldo and Messi Interview at UEFA Awards
In August 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were interviewed together before the announcement of the UEFA Men's Player of the Year. Ronaldo stated that they pushed each other and it's good to be part of football history.
2019: Ranked Among Decade's Highest-Paid Athletes
From 2010 to 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo earned €720 million (£615 million), ranking second in Forbes' list of the decade's highest-paid athletes, behind Floyd Mayweather Jr.
2019: World's Most Famous Athlete by ESPN
From 2016 to 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked the world's most famous athlete by ESPN.
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.
September 2020: Sporting CP's Football Academy Renamed
On September 21, 2020, Sporting CP's football academy in Alcochete, formerly called Academia Sporting, was renamed Academia Cristiano Ronaldo.
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.
2020: Ballon d'Or Dream Team
In 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo was named in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team.
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.
October 2021: Lawsuit Dismissal Recommendation
In October 2021, federal magistrate judge Daniel Albregts recommended that the rape lawsuit against Cristiano Ronaldo be dismissed, citing bad faith by the woman's lawyer.
2021: FIFA Special Award
In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo received a special award for Outstanding Career Achievement by FIFA.
2021: Dolores Aveiro's Interview
In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo's mother, Dolores Aveiro, stated in an interview for Sporting TV that her son would have been a bricklayer if he hadn't become a football player.
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.
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.
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: Expected Twins, Male Twin Died
In 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez were expecting another set of twins. The male twin died during childbirth while the female twin survived.
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.
September 2023: Ronaldo Declares Rivalry with Messi Over
In September 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo declared that his rivalry with Lionel Messi was over and "gone" after 36 official fixtures and 15 years of "sharing the stage".
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: World's Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes
In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes.
2023: Signing with Al-Nassr
In 2023, Ronaldo signed for Al-Nassr, a move credited for revolutionizing football in Saudi Arabia.
2023: 'Siuuu' Meaning Confirmed
In 2023, almost a decade after first performing the "Siuuu" celebration, Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed in an interview that the phrase is derived from the Portuguese word "sim," meaning "yes," but "meaning it very strongly".
2023: Medal of Honor of the City of Lisbon
In 2023, the Lisbon City Council approved awarding Cristiano Ronaldo the Medal of Honor of the City, recognizing his passion for the city.
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.
August 2024: YouTube Channel Launch
On August 21, 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel, UR Cristiano, which quickly became the fastest to reach several subscriber milestones, including 1 million in 90 minutes and becoming the most subscribed channel in Portugal.
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.
2024: World's Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes and UEFA Award
In 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes and also received the Champions League All-Time Top Scorer by UEFA.
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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