History of Cristiano Ronaldo in Timeline
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.
1948: Oldest player in European leagues
On 20 July 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.
1968: First Ballon d'Or winner
Ronaldo became United's first Ballon d'Or winner since Best in 1968.
February 1985: Birth in Funchal, Madeira
In February 1985, Cristiano Ronaldo was born in the São Pedro parish of Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
February 1985: Cristiano Ronaldo's Birth
On February 1985, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
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, at age 12, Ronaldo signed with Sporting CP.
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: Signed by Manchester United
On 12 August 2003, Manchester United signed Ronaldo for £12 million, an England record for a teenager.
August 2003: Debut for Portugal
On August 20, 2003, at the age of 18, Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut for the Portugal national team as a substitute against Kazakhstan.
2003: Signed with Manchester United
In 2003, Ronaldo began playing for Manchester United, winning the FA Cup in his first season.
2003: International debut for Portugal
In 2003, at the age of 18, Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal.
May 2004: FA Cup Final Goal and Red Card
On 15 May 2004, Ronaldo scored the opening goal and received the first red card of his career in a victory against Aston Villa. He also scored in United's FA Cup Final win.
2004: 2004-05 Season
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: Support for Tsunami Victims in Aceh
In 2004, after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Cristiano Ronaldo visited Aceh, Indonesia, to raise funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction after seeing an eight-year-old boy survivor wearing a Portuguese football shirt.
September 2005: Death of Father, José Dinis Aveiro
In September 2005, Cristiano Ronaldo's father, José Dinis Aveiro, died at age 52 due to an alcoholism-related liver condition when Ronaldo was 20 years old.
2005: Best Matches of the Season
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 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.
2006: Awards for the Season
During the 2006-07 season, Ronaldo amassed awards for the season.
2006: CR7 Boutique Opening in Madeira
In 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo opened a fashion boutique under the name CR7 (his initials and shirt number) on the island of Madeira.
2006: FIFA World Cup
In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo was a focal part of the team that finished in fourth place.
2007: C.D. Nacional renames youth campus after Ronaldo
In 2007, C.D. Nacional renamed its youth campus Cristiano Ronaldo Campus Futebol (Cristiano Ronaldo Football Campus).
2007: Publication of Moments Autobiography
In 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo's autobiography, titled Moments, was published.
2007: Runner-up for Ballon d'Or
In 2007, Ronaldo was named runner-up to Kaká for the Ballon d'Or, and came third in the running for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
January 2008: First Hat-Trick for Manchester 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 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.
2008: Appears on Covers of Pro Evolution Soccer
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared on the 2008 edition cover of Pro Evolution Soccer.
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 fashion boutique under the name CR7 in Lisbon.
2008: Best selling Premier League product
In 2008, Ronaldo's number 7 Manchester United shirt was the best-selling Premier League sports product.
2008: First Ballon d'Or
In 2008, at the age of 23, Cristiano Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or with a record-high vote count.
2009: Donation to Hospital in Madeira
In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo donated £100,000 to the hospital in Madeira that saved his mother's life, to help them build a cancer center.
2009: Signed with Real Madrid
In 2009, Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid in a transfer worth €94 million (£80 million).
2009: Alleged Rape Incident
In 2009, an alleged rape incident occurred, leading to investigations and lawsuits against Cristiano Ronaldo in subsequent years.
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 First Son
On 17 June 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo became a father to a son, born in the United States, with Ronaldo retaining full custody and not revealing the mother's identity.
2010: Trophyless Season
As a result of United finishing in a disappointing sixth place and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League in 2022, Ronaldo went trophyless for the first time since 2010.
2010: 2010 World Cup
During the 2010 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo scored one goal and was named man of the match in all three group stage matches.
2010: Earnings from 2010 to 2019
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: 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.
2010: Pledge to Play in Charity Match 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.
September 2011: Release of Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit
In September 2011, Castrol released the television film Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit, in which Ronaldo was physically and mentally tested, leading to scrutiny of his physical performance by the world media.
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: 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.
2011: Runner-up in 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or
In 2011, Ronaldo finished runner-up to Lionel Messi in the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or after scoring 60 goals across all competitions and leading Madrid to their first league title in four years.
2011: Record-Breaking La Liga Title Win
In the 2011-12 season, Ronaldo won a record-breaking La Liga title.
March 2012: 100th League Goal for Real Madrid
On 24 March 2012, Ronaldo scored his 100th league goal for Real Madrid in a 5–1 win over Real Sociedad, breaking the club record.
November 2012: Wears Personalized Nike Mercurial Vapor CR7 Edition
Since November 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo has worn the Nike Mercurial Vapor personalized 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" program to raise awareness among kids about avoiding drug addiction, HIV, malaria, and obesity.
2012: Named to the Euro 2012 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: Ronaldo Discusses Rivalry with Messi
In 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo commented on his rivalry with Lionel Messi, acknowledging the competition and its positive impact. He also noted that they don't have a personal relationship outside of football.
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.
2012: Captained Real Madrid for the first time
In 2012, following the 2012–13 winter break, Ronaldo captained Madrid for the first time in an official match, scoring twice to lift 10-man Madrid to a 4–3 win over Sociedad on 6 January.
2012: First La Liga title since 2012.
In the 2016-17 season, Ronaldo helped Madrid to win their first La Liga title since 2012.
January 2013: Becomes Save the Children Global Artist Ambassador
In January 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo became Save the Children's new Global Artist Ambassador, aiming to help fight child hunger and obesity.
March 2013: Becomes Ambassador for The Mangrove Care Forum
In March 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo agreed to be the ambassador for The Mangrove Care Forum in Indonesia, to raise awareness of mangrove conservation.
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.
November 2013: CR7 Underwear and Sock Line Release
In November 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo, in partnership with JBS Textile Group and Richard Chai, released a range of underwear and socks under his CR7 fashion brand.
December 2013: Viva Ronaldo Social Network Launch
In December 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo launched Viva Ronaldo, a dedicated social networking website and app.
December 2013: Opens Museu CR7 in Funchal
In December 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo opened a museum, Museu CR7, in his hometown of Funchal, Madeira, to house trophies and memorabilia.
December 2013: Waxwork at Madrid Wax Museum
In December 2013, another waxwork of Cristiano Ronaldo was presented at the Madrid Wax Museum.
2013: Appears on Covers of Pro Evolution Soccer
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared on the 2013 edition cover of Pro Evolution Soccer.
2013: Joined by Gareth Bale and Wins 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or
During the 2013–14 season, in 2013, Ronaldo was joined at the club by Gareth Bale forming 'BBC'. He scored 69 goals, winning the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
2013: Adapting Style at Real Madrid
From 2013 onwards, under manager Carlo Ancelotti, Cristiano Ronaldo adapted his style of play to the physical effects of ageing, focusing on short-distance creating and goalscoring at Real Madrid.
2013: Highest recorded jump
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.
2013: Popularization of the "Siu" Celebration
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo's "Siu" celebration gained widespread popularity. After scoring, he would jump, turn, and land in a "signature power stance" while exclaiming "Sí", which became iconic and widely imitated.
2013: Ballon d'Or Award
In 2013, Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards.
2013: Highest-paid football player
In 2013-2014, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked by Forbes as the world's highest-paid football player, with a combined income from salaries, bonuses, and endorsements of $73 million.
2013: First "Siuuu" Celebration and International Champions Cup Win
On August 7, 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo first performed the "Siuuu" celebration during the International Champions Cup Final between Real Madrid and Chelsea after scoring a goal. Madrid won the match 3–1 to claim the International Champions Cup.
January 2014: Raised to the Rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry
In January 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo was raised to the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry by the President of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, in recognition of his global representation of Portugal and example of tenacity.
May 2014: Named most marketable football player
In May 2014, Repucom named Cristiano Ronaldo the most marketable and most recognized football player in the world.
June 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet Documentary Release
In June 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet, a documentary narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, was released via Vimeo.
July 2014: CR7 Premium Line Launch
In July 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo expanded his CR7 fashion brand by launching a line of premium shirts and shoes.
December 2014: Unveiling of Bronze Statue in Funchal
On December 21, 2014, a bronze statue of Cristiano Ronaldo, designed by artist Ricardo Madeira Veloso, was unveiled in Funchal.
2014: 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification and Tournament
In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo scored eight goals during qualification for the FIFA World Cup and scored all four goals against Sweden in the play-off. At the tournament in Brazil, he assisted a late equaliser against the United States and scored the winner against Ghana.
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.
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: Champions League Win
In 2014, Ronaldo was integral to Madrid's Champions League win.
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.
2014: 2014 FIFA Club World Cup and Ballon d'Or
In 2014, after winning the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, Ronaldo received the 2014 Ballon d'Or, becoming a three-time recipient. He also set a new personal best of 61 goals during the 2014-15 season.
2014: Highest-paid football player
In 2014-2015, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked by Forbes as the world's highest-paid football player, with a combined income from salaries, bonuses, and endorsements of $79 million.
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 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 with 230 goals, surpassing Raúl.
November 2015: Ronaldo Documentary Film Release
On 9 November 2015, a documentary film directed by Anthony Wonke about Cristiano Ronaldo's life and career, titled Ronaldo, was released.
2015: Named world's most charitable sportsperson
In 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo was named the world's most charitable sportsperson after donating £5 million to the relief effort after the earthquake in Nepal which killed over 8,000 people.
2015: Second Best Selling Jersey Worldwide
In 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo's number 7 Real Madrid shirt was the second best-selling worldwide, after Messi's number 10 Barcelona shirt.
2015: Named in UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year
In 2015, Ronaldo was named in the UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year.
2015: Named Best Portuguese Player of All Time
In 2015, Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of all time by the Portuguese Football Federation.
2015: Highest-earning athlete
In 2015-2016, Cristiano Ronaldo had a total income of $88 million from his salary and endorsements, earning him the title of the highest-earning athlete.
June 2016: Donation of Champions League Bonus
In June 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo donated the entirety of his €600,000 Champions League bonus after Real Madrid won the competition.
2016: Highest-earning athlete
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer to top Forbes' list of highest-earning athletes, with a total income of $88 million from his salary and endorsements in 2015-16.
2016: Matches Goalscoring Record
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo reached the same goalscoring record as in 2023, scoring 54 goals.
2016: Named world's most famous athlete
In 2016, ESPN named Cristiano Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete.
2016: Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes
In 2016, Ronaldo was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes and the world's most famous athlete by ESPN.
2016: Ballon d'Or Award
In 2016, Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards.
2016: Reached 100 goals in UEFA club competition.
In April 2016, Ronaldo became the first player to reach 100 goals in UEFA club competition after scoring both goals in a 2–1 away win against Bayern.
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.
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 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.
November 2017: Birth of Daughter with Georgina Rodríguez
On 12 November 2017, Georgina Rodríguez gave birth to a daughter.
2017: Named world's most famous athlete
In 2017, ESPN named Cristiano Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete.
2017: Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes
In 2017, Ronaldo was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes.
2017: Ballon d'Or Award
In 2017, Ronaldo won back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards.
2017: Free-Roaming Centre Forward
Since 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo adapted his style of play again to become more of a free-roaming centre forward under manager Zinedine Zidane, excelling and maintaining a prolific goalscoring record.
2017: Awarded The Best FIFA Men's Player and 2017 Ballon d'Or
Throughout 2017, and awarded in October, his performances led to him receiving The Best FIFA Men's Player award for the second consecutive year. A day later, Ronaldo won the 2017 Ballon d'Or, receiving his fifth award.
April 2018: "PlayStation goal" against Juventus
On 3 April 2018, Ronaldo scored a bicycle kick goal, described as a "PlayStation goal" against Juventus, earning him a standing ovation.
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.
June 2018: Commissioning of New Bust
In June 2018, sports website Bleacher Report commissioned sculptor Emanuel Santos to create another bust of Cristiano Ronaldo. A new bust was made by a Spanish sculptor, shown to the public on June 15, 2018.
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.
2018: 2018 World Cup Hat-Trick and European Goal Record
During 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. He also broke Puskás' record as the highest European goalscorer of all time, with 85 international goals, and was named in the World Cup Dream Team.
2018: Named world's most famous athlete and High Sales of Juventus shirt
In 2018, ESPN named Cristiano Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete. Within 24 hours of his Juventus number 7 shirt being released, over 520,000 had been sold, generating $62.4 million.
2018: Joining Juventus
In 2018, Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian opined that Cristiano Ronaldo had made Juventus weaker, due to "his relative immobility" in his mid-30s, even if his personal goal-scoring output remained high.
2018: Prolific World Cup Campaign
In 2018, Ronaldo had his most prolific World Cup campaign and was voted in the Fan Dream Team.
2018: Ranked Most Influential Person in Sports Culture
In a 2018 article, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked first in the ranking of the 50 most influential people in sports culture.
January 2019: Won 2018 Supercoppa Italiana
On 16 January 2019, Ronaldo won his first trophy with Juventus, the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana, scoring the only goal against AC Milan.
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.
August 2019: Ronaldo Discusses Rivalry with Messi
In August 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were interviewed together before the UEFA Men's Player of the Year announcement, with Ronaldo stating that they pushed each other and it was good to be part of football history.
2019: Earnings from 2010 to 2019
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: Most Famous Athlete by ESPN
From 2016 to 2019, Ronaldo was the world's most famous athlete by ESPN.
2019: Named world's most famous athlete
In 2019, ESPN named Cristiano Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete.
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.
September 2020: Sporting CP's Football Academy Renamed Academia Cristiano Ronaldo
On September 21, 2020, Sporting CP's football academy in Alcochete 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: Golden Boot at Euro 2020
In 2020, Ronaldo received the Golden Boot as top scorer of Euro 2020.
2020: Named in 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 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 Europe's top five leagues.
August 2021: Re-signed with Manchester United
On 27 August 2021, Manchester United announced they had reached an agreement with Juventus to re-sign Ronaldo. The first 24 hours of Ronaldo's shirt sales was reported to have broken the all-time record following a transfer.
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.
2021: Mother's Interview
In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo's mother, Dolores Aveiro, stated that her son would be a bricklayer if he had not become a professional football player during an interview for Sporting TV.
2021: FIFA Award
In 2021, Ronaldo received special awards for Outstanding Career Achievement by FIFA.
2021: Return to Manchester United
In 2021, Ronaldo returned to Manchester United and was included in the PFA Team of the Year at 37 years old.
February 2022: First goal in new 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 due to the lawyer's repeated use of cyber-hacked attorney-client privileged documents.
December 2022: Agreement with Al-Nassr
In December 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo reached an agreement with Saudi club Al-Nassr, signing a contract until 2025 for a record-breaking salary of €200 million per year.
2022: Loss of Male Twin During Childbirth
In 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez were expecting twins, but the male twin died during childbirth while the female twin survived.
2022: Contract Termination
In 2022, Ronaldo's contract with Manchester United was terminated due to a fallout with the newly appointed manager.
2022: Debate on Messi Settling the Rivalry
In 2022, after Lionel Messi led Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup, many critics suggested that Messi had settled the debate between him and Cristiano Ronaldo.
2022: Scored 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, 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 lineup due to a dispute with the manager.
January 2023: Debut for Al Nassr and First Goal
In January 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo debuted for Al Nassr as club captain and played a full 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory over Al-Ettifaq. He also scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 draw against Al-Fateh.
January 2023: Exemption from Cohabitation Laws in Saudi Arabia
In January 2023, after Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia, he and his partner were made an exception to the rule prohibiting unmarried couples from living together in Saudi Arabia.
March 2023: Most Capped Male Footballer
On March 23, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace against Liechtenstein, earning his 197th cap and becoming the most capped male footballer of all time.
September 2023: Ronaldo declares rivalry with Messi is 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 26 October 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo, through Portuguese company Expressão Livre, is part of a group of investors that are the new owners of Medialivre, the publisher of Correio da Manhã, Record and Jornal de Negócios.
2023: Ronaldo Confirms the meaning of "Siu"
In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed that the phrase "Siu" is derived from the Portuguese word 'sim', meaning 'yes,' and he clarified that "Siuuu" simply means yes, but meaning it very strongly.
2023: Top Scorer in 2023
In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a total of 54 goals in all competitions for both Al-Nassr and Portugal, making him the outright top scorer of the year, equaling his previous record from 2016.
2023: Signed with Al Nassr
In 2023, Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr, a move credited for revolutionizing football in Saudi Arabia.
2023: Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes
In 2023, Ronaldo was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes.
2023: Awarded the 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, proposed by its president, Carlos Moedas, due to his passion for the city.
May 2024: Breaks Saudi League Scoring Record
On May 27, 2024, in Al Nassr's home fixture against Al-Ittihad, 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 equaled Rogério Ceni's record for the most top-level matches played by a male professional footballer, reaching 1,225 matches on May 31, 2024.
August 2024: Launch of YouTube Channel
On August 21, 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel, UR Cristiano, which quickly reached milestones, including becoming the fastest to reach 1 million subscribers in 90 minutes and surpassing the Portuguese Nick Jr. as the most subscribed channel in Portugal.
2024: First Player to Feature in Six European Championships
In 2024, with his start in Portugal's UEFA Euro 2024 opener against the Czech Republic, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to feature in six European Championships. Later, on September 5, 2024, he scored his 900th career goal.
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