History of Cristiano Ronaldo in Timeline
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.
1948: Oldest player to score over 30 goals
On July 20, 2020, Cristiano 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.
1968: United's First Ballon d'Or Winner Since Best
With his 2008 Ballon d'Or and 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year, Ronaldo became United's first Ballon d'Or winner since Best in 1968.
February 1985: Born in Funchal, Madeira
Cristiano Ronaldo was born on 5 February 1985, in the São Pedro parish of Funchal, Madeira.
February 1985: Cristiano Ronaldo Born
In February 1985, Cristiano Ronaldo was born as Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro.
1992: Played for Andorinha
From 1992 to 1995, Ronaldo played for Andorinha, where his father was the kit man.
1995: Played for Andorinha
From 1992 to 1995, Ronaldo played for Andorinha, where his father was the kit man.
1997: Signed with Sporting CP
In 1997, Ronaldo went on a three-day trial with Sporting CP and signed with them.
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.
August 2002: First Official Match for Sporting CP
On 14 August 2002, Ronaldo played his first official match for Sporting CP in a UEFA Champions League qualifying round.
August 2003: Signed by Manchester United
On 12 August 2003, Ronaldo signed for Manchester United for £12 million, an England record for a teenager.
August 2003: Manchester United Debut
On 16 August 2003, Ronaldo made his debut for Manchester United as a substitute in a Premier League match.
August 2003: Debut for Portugal
On 20 August 2003, at the age of 18, Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal as a substitute against Kazakhstan.
2003: Signed with Manchester United
In 2003, Ronaldo signed with Manchester United and started his career there.
2003: International Debut for Portugal
In 2003, at the age of 18, Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal.
May 2004: FA Cup Final Victory
On 15 May 2004, Ronaldo scored the opening goal in a victory against Aston Villa and later received a red card. He won the FA Cup Final against Millwall.
2004: Good Matches
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.
2004: First International Goal at UEFA Euro 2004
In 2004, at UEFA Euro 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first international goal in a 2–1 group stage loss to Greece, during his eighth international appearance. Despite Portugal losing to Greece again in the final, Ronaldo made the team of the tournament, with two assists and two goals.
September 2005: Death of Ronaldo's Father
In September 2005, Ronaldo's father, José, died at the age of 52 due to an alcoholism-related liver condition when Ronaldo was 20 years old.
2005: Good Matches
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.
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: Opening of CR7 Fashion Boutique in Madeira
In 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo opened his first fashion boutique under the name CR7 on the island of Madeira.
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.
2006: Youngest Goalscorer for Portugal at a World Cup
In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, at the age of 21 years and 132 days, Cristiano Ronaldo became the youngest ever goalscorer for Portugal at a World Cup finals. Portugal reached the semi-finals, but lost to France, with Ronaldo being booed during their defeat, due to an incident that occurred in the quarter-finals against England.
2006: Personal Awards
In the 2006-07 season, Ronaldo won the PFA Player's Player, Fans' Player, and Young Player of the Year awards, and the FWA Footballer of the Year award.
2007: Publication of Autobiography 'Moments'
In 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo's autobiography, titled 'Moments', was published.
2007: Ballon d'Or Runner-Up
In 2007, Ronaldo was named runner-up to Kaká for the Ballon d'Or and came third for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
January 2008: First Hat-Trick for Manchester United
On 12 January 2008, Ronaldo scored his first hat-trick for Manchester United against Newcastle United. In addition to other awards he won the Premier League Golden Boot.
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: UEFA Euro 2008
Ahead of UEFA Euro 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo wore the number 7 shirt. Despite scoring eight goals in qualifications, he scored just one goal in the finals, netting the second goal of Portugal's 3–1 win in the group stage game against the Czech Republic. Portugal were eliminated in the quarter-finals after a 3–2 loss to Germany.
2008: Opening of Second CR7 Boutique in Lisbon
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo opened a second fashion boutique under the CR7 brand in Lisbon.
2008: First Ballon d'Or in 2008
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 by a record-high vote count at age 23.
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.
2009: Joined Real Madrid
In 2009, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for a record €94 million (£80 million).
June 2010: Birth of Cristiano Ronaldo Jr.
On 17 June 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: Trophyless Season
Cristiano Ronaldo finished the 2021-2022 season trophyless, for the first time since 2010.
2010: Given No. 7 and Copa del Rey win
In 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo was given the No. 7 jersey and scored 53 goals, leading Real Madrid to win the Copa del Rey. He scored the winning goal against Barcelona in El Clásico and won the Pichichi Trophy and European Golden Shoe.
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.
September 2011: Release of 'Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit'
In September 2011, Castrol produced the television film Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit, which featured physical and mental tests on Ronaldo, leading to scrutiny of his physical performance by world media.
December 2011: Launch of iPhone Game 'Heads Up with Cristiano'
In December 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo launched an iPhone game called 'Heads Up with Cristiano', created by developer RockLive.
2011: Start of Tax Evasion Period
Cristiano Ronaldo was later accused of tax evasion starting in 2011 and lasting up to 2014.
2011: Runner-up in FIFA Ballon d'Or
In 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo finished as runner-up to Lionel Messi in the FIFA Ballon d'Or after scoring 60 goals across all competitions and leading Real Madrid to their first league title in four years.
2011: Record-Breaking Season
In the 2011-12 season, Ronaldo's Real Madrid reached 100 points.
March 2012: 100th league goal for Madrid
On March 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th league goal for Real Madrid in a 5–1 win over Real Sociedad, breaking Ferenc Puskás's previous club record.
2012: Euro Team of the Tournament
At Euro 2012, Ronaldo was named in the team of the tournament.
2012: Captained Real Madrid for the first time
In 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo captained Real Madrid for the first time in an official match, scoring twice in a 4–3 win over Sociedad on January 6. Later, on January 30, he became the first non-Spanish player in 60 years to captain Madrid in El Clásico, marking his 500th club appearance.
2012: First La Liga title since 2012
In 2016-17 season, Cristiano Ronaldo helped Madrid to win their first La Liga title since 2012.
November 2013: Release of CR7 Underwear and Sock Line
In November 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo, in partnership with JBS Textile Group and Richard Chai, released a range of underwear and socks under his CR7 brand.
December 2013: Launch of Social Networking Website and App 'Viva Ronaldo'
In December 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo launched Viva Ronaldo, a dedicated social networking website and app.
2013: Adapting style with reduced off-the-ball movement
From 2013 onwards, under manager Carlo Ancelotti, Cristiano Ronaldo effectively 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: Highest recorded jump in football history
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo achieved the highest recorded jump in football history, measuring 2.93 metres (9 ft 7 in), during a match against Manchester United while playing for Real Madrid in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
2013: Joined by Gareth Bale and FIFA Ballon d'Or win
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo was joined by Gareth Bale at Real Madrid, forming the 'BBC' attacking trio. He scored 69 goals and won the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award.
June 2014: Release of 'Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet'
In June 2014, the documentary 'Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet,' narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, was released via Vimeo.
July 2014: Expansion of CR7 Fashion Brand
In July 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo expanded his CR7 fashion brand by launching a line of premium shirts and shoes.
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.
2014: 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification and Tournament
During qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo scored eight goals, but Portugal did not qualify directly. In the play-off against Sweden, Ronaldo scored all four goals to secure qualification. At the tournament in Brazil, Ronaldo assisted a last-minute equaliser against the United States and scored an 80th-minute winner in a 2–1 win over Ghana.
2014: Won the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup
In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA Club World Cup and received the 2014 Ballon d'Or, becoming a three-time recipient. He scored a personal best of 61 goals during the 2014–15 season and finished as top scorer in the Champions League.
2014: Champions League Win
In 2014, Ronaldo helped Real Madrid win one of their four Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018.
2014: Included in Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2014, Time included Ronaldo on their list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
January 2015: End of Relationship with Irina Shayk
In January 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo's five-year relationship with Russian model Irina Shayk ended.
September 2015: Release of 'Legacy' Fragrance
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 September 12, 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo became Real Madrid's all-time top scorer with 230 goals in 203 matches, surpassing Raúl's record. He also became the all-time top scorer in the Champions League.
November 2015: Release of 'Ronaldo' Documentary
On 9 November 2015, the documentary film 'Ronaldo,' directed by Anthony Wonke about Cristiano Ronaldo's life and career, was released.
2015: UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year
In 2015, Ronaldo was named in the UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year.
2016: Most Famous Athlete by ESPN
From 2016 to 2019, Ronaldo was considered the world's most famous athlete by ESPN.
2016: UEFA Euro 2016 Victory
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to their first-ever trophy at the UEFA Euro 2016, although he was subbed off in the 25th minute in the final against hosts France. He received the Silver Boot as the second-highest goalscorer, which gave him his fourth Ballon d'Or later that year. With the win, Portugal qualified and made its only appearance in the FIFA Confederations Cup held in Russia, where they finished in third place, with Ronaldo being named man of the match in all three of Portugal's group stage matches.
2016: Goalscoring record as in 2016
In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo reached the same goalscoring record as in 2016, scoring 54 goals in all competitions for Al-Nassr and Portugal.
2016: Reached 100 goals in UEFA club competition
In April 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to reach 100 goals in UEFA club competition and also became the all-time top scorer in the top five European leagues, surpassing Jimmy Greaves.
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.
June 2017: Birth of Twins via Surrogacy
On 8 June 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 12 November 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo's partner Georgina Rodríguez gave birth to a daughter.
2017: The Best FIFA Men's Player award
In 2017, Cristiano 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: More of a free-roaming centre forward
Since 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo adapted his style of play yet again to become more of a free-roaming centre forward under manager Zinedine Zidane, a role in which he continued to excel and maintain a prolific goalscoring record; in this position, he earned praise in the media for his intelligent movement both on and off the ball, positional sense, link-up play and finishing, as well as his ability to lose or anticipate his markers, find space in the box and score from few touches or opportunities.
April 2018: Acrobatic bicycle kick against Juventus
In April 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a memorable acrobatic bicycle kick against Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals, earning a standing ovation from the opposing fans.
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.
2018: Joined Juventus in 2018
Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus aged 33 in 2018.
2018: Influential people in sports culture for 2018
In 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked first in the ranking of the 50 most influential people in sports culture for 2018.
2018: Signed for Juventus
In 2018, Ronaldo signed for Juventus in a transfer worth an initial €100 million.
2018: 2018 World Cup achievements
In the 2018 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match, in a 3–3 draw against Spain. In the following match, Ronaldo scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Morocco, breaking Puskás' record as the highest European goalscorer of all time, with 85 international goals. For his performances in the tournament, Ronaldo was named in the World Cup Dream Team.
2018: Prolific World Cup Campaign
In the 2018 World Cup, Ronaldo had his most prolific campaign with four goals.
2018: Supercoppa Italiana win
On January 16, 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo won his first trophy with Juventus, the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana, after scoring the only goal against AC Milan.
January 2019: Scored for the trophy
In January 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo won his first trophy with the club the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana, after he scored the only goal from a header against AC Milan.
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.
2019: Most Famous Athlete by ESPN
From 2016 to 2019, Ronaldo was considered the world's most famous athlete by ESPN.
January 2020: First Serie A hat-trick
On January 6, 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first Serie A hat-trick in a 4–0 win against Cagliari, becoming only the second player to score hat-tricks in the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A.
2020: Euro 2020
Cristiano Ronaldo received the Golden Boot as top scorer of Euro 2020 and also became the first player to score at five European Championships.
2020: Ballon d'Or Dream Team
In 2020, Ronaldo was named in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team.
March 2021: Scored in 600th league match
On March 2, 2021, Cristiano 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-signed with Manchester United
On August 27, 2021, Manchester United announced they had reached an agreement with Juventus to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo, subject to agreement of personal terms, visa, and medical. He was given the number 7 shirt.
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: Mother's Interview
In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo's mother stated in an interview that he would have been a bricklayer if he hadn't become a footballer.
2021: FIFA Achievement Award
In 2021, Ronaldo received special awards for Outstanding Career Achievement by FIFA.
2021: Returned to Manchester United
In 2021, Ronaldo returned to Manchester United.
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.
February 2022: First goal of the year
On February 15, 2022, Cristiano 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
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.
December 2022: Joined Al-Nassr
On December 30, 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo agreed to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, signing a contract until 2025 and receiving the highest football salary ever at €200 million per year.
2022: Expecting Twins
In 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez were expecting another set of twins. Tragically, the male twin died during childbirth, while the female twin survived.
January 2023: Debut for Al-Nassr
On January 22, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut for Al-Nassr as club captain in a 1–0 win over Al-Ettifaq. He scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw against Al-Fateh by converting a last-minute penalty.
March 2023: Most Capped Male Footballer of All Time
On 23 March 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace against Liechtenstein as he earned his 197th overall cap to become the most capped male footballer of all time.
October 2023: Ronaldo Invests in Medialivre
On 26 October 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo, through his company Expressão Livre, became part of a group of investors in Medialivre, the publisher of Correio da Manhã, Record, and Jornal de Negócios.
2023: Top scorer in 2023
In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 54 goals in all competitions for Al-Nassr and Portugal, making him the outright top scorer of the year and matching his 2016 record.
May 2024: Breaks Saudi Pro League Record
On 27 May 2024, in a home fixture against Al-Ittihad, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 34th and 35th league goals of the campaign, 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: the English, Spanish, Italian and Saudi leagues.
2024: League's Top Scorer for second time
Cristiano Ronaldo finished the 2024–25 season with 25 league goals, becoming the league's top scorer for a second consecutive time.
2024: First Player to Feature in Six European Championships
During Portugal's UEFA Euro 2024 opener against the Czech Republic, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to feature in six European Championships, having previously been the first player to appear in five.
2024: UEFA Award
In 2024, Ronaldo received Champions League All-Time Top Scorer award by UEFA.
August 2025: Engagement Announcement
On 11 August 2025, Georgina Rodríguez announced her engagement with Cristiano Ronaldo via Instagram.
November 2025: Wish to Meet Donald Trump
In a November 2025 interview with Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo expressed a desire to meet with U.S. president Donald Trump, citing admiration and a shared desire for world peace. He also joked he was "seriously more famous" than the president.
December 2025: Participation in 'Fast X: Part 2' Confirmed
In December 2025, it was confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will participate in the film Fast X: Part 2, part of the Fast & Furious franchise.
2025: UEFA Nations League Title
In 2025, Ronaldo won a UEFA Nations League.
2025: Contract with Al-Nassr
In December 30, 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo agreed to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, signing a contract until 2025.
February 2026: Acquisition of Ownership Stake in UD Almería
On 26 February 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo acquired a 25% ownership stake in Spanish club UD Almería through CR7 Sports Investments.
2026: Reaching record goals in World Cup Qualifying
On 14 October 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in a 2–2 draw against Hungary in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, reaching a record 41 goals in World Cup qualifying.
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