A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo, often nicknamed CR7, is a Portuguese professional footballer renowned as one of the greatest players of all time. Currently playing for Al Nassr and captaining the Portugal national team, he's celebrated for his exceptional goal-scoring ability and overall skill. His accomplishments include five Ballon d'Or awards, multiple UEFA Men's Player of the Year Awards, and numerous league titles, including five UEFA Champions League titles. Ronaldo holds records for most goals and assists in the Champions League and European Championship, as well as most international appearances and goals. He is the all-time leading goalscorer in football, having scored over 900 career goals.
1968: Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year
Cristiano Ronaldo became United's first Ballon d'Or winner since Best in 1968, and the first Premier League player to be named the FIFA World Player of the Year.
Share
2003: Move to Manchester United
In 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo began playing for Manchester United, winning the FA cup in his first season.
Share
2006: Personal Awards
In the 2006–07 season, Cristiano Ronaldo won 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.
Share
2007: Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player Nominations
In 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo was named runner-up for the Ballon d'Or and came third in the running for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Share
July 2008: Libel Damages Received
In July 2008, Ronaldo received libel damages in response to a Daily Mirror article that falsely reported him drinking heavily in a nightclub while recovering from an injury.
Share
2008: First Ballon d'Or
In 2008, Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or by a record-high vote count at age 23.
Share
2010: Ronaldo's Earnings from 2010 to 2019
From 2010 to 2019, Ronaldo earned €720 million (£615 million), ranking second in Forbes list of the decade's highest-paid athletes.
Share
2010: 2010 World Cup
In the 2010 World Cup, Ronaldo scored only one goal. Despite this, he was named man of the match in all three group stage matches.
Share
2011: Runner-up in the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or
In 2011, Ronaldo scored 60 goals across all competitions, leading Real Madrid to their first league title in four years. He finished as runner-up to Lionel Messi in the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or.
Share
2012: Champions League Top Scorer
From 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo was the Champions League's top scorer for six consecutive seasons between 2012 and 2018.
Share
2012: Real Madrid first La Liga title
In the 2016-2017 season Real Madrid won their first La Liga title since 2012.
Share
2013: Ballon d'Or Award
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo won one of his back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards in 2013 and 2014.
Share
2013: Won the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or
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, scoring 69 goals during the year.
Share
2013: Ronaldo's Combined Income
In 2013-14, Ronaldo's combined income from salaries, bonuses, and endorsements was $73 million.
Share
May 2014: Ronaldo Named Most Marketable Football Player
In May 2014, Repucom named Ronaldo the most marketable and most recognised football player in the world.
Share
2014: Received the 2014 Ballon d'Or
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.
Share
2014: Champions League Win
In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo contributed to Real Madrid winning one of their four Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018.
Share
2014: Ronaldo Named in Time 100
In 2014, Ronaldo was named in the Time 100, Time's annual list of the most influential people in the world.
Share
2014: Ronaldo's Combined Income
In 2014-15, Ronaldo's combined income from salaries, bonuses, and endorsements was $79 million.
Share
2015: Best Portuguese Player of All Time
In 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of all time by the Portuguese Football Federation.
Share
2015: Ronaldo Named World's Most Charitable Sportsperson
In 2015, Ronaldo was named the world's most charitable sportsperson after donating £5 million to the relief effort after the earthquake in Nepal.
Share
2015: Ronaldo's Combined Income
In 2015-16, Ronaldo's total income was $88 million from his salary and endorsements.
Share
2016: Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked as the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes.
Share
2016: Ballon d'Or Award
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo won one of his back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards in 2016 and 2017.
Share
2016: Ronaldo Named World's Most Famous Athlete by ESPN
In 2016, ESPN named Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete, a title he held for multiple years.
Share
2016: Ronaldo Tops Forbes List of Highest-Earning Athletes
In 2016, Ronaldo became the first footballer to top the Forbes list of highest-earning athletes, with a total income of $88 million in 2015–16.
Share
2017: Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes
In 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked as the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes.
Share
2017: Ballon d'Or Award
In 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo won one of his back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards in 2016 and 2017.
Share
2017: Ronaldo Named World's Most Famous Athlete by ESPN
In 2017, ESPN named Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete, a title he held for multiple years.
Share
2017: Awarded The Best FIFA Men's Player award for the second consecutive year
On October 23, 2017, Ronaldo was awarded 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.
Share
2018: Ronaldo Named World's Most Famous Athlete by ESPN
In 2018, ESPN named Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete, a title he held for multiple years.
Share
2018: Influential People in Sports Culture
In a 2018 article for Bleacher Report, Ronaldo was ranked first in the ranking of the 50 most influential people in sports culture.
Share
July 2019: Rape Charges Dropped in Las Vegas
In July 2019, Las Vegas prosecutors announced they would not be pressing charges against Cristiano Ronaldo regarding allegations of rape, citing insufficient evidence to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
Share
2019: Ronaldo's Earnings from 2010 to 2019
From 2010 to 2019, Ronaldo earned €720 million (£615 million), ranking second in Forbes list of the decade's highest-paid athletes.
Share
2019: Ronaldo Named World's Most Famous Athlete by ESPN
In 2019, ESPN named Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete, a title he held for multiple years.
Share
2020: Named to Ballon d'Or Dream Team
In 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team.
Share
2020: Euro 2020 Golden Boot
In 2020, Ronaldo received the Golden Boot as top scorer of Euro 2020 and became the first player to score at five European Championships.
Share
2020: Golden Boot at Euro
In Euro 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo received the Golden Boot as the top scorer.
Share
October 2021: Recommendation to Dismiss Rape Lawsuit
In October 2021, a federal magistrate judge recommended dismissing the rape lawsuit against Ronaldo, citing misconduct by the plaintiff's lawyer in using privileged documents and finding no evidence of intimidation by Ronaldo's legal team.
Share
2021: FIFA Award for Outstanding Career Achievement
In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo received a special award for Outstanding Career Achievement by FIFA.
Share
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.
Share
March 2023: Most Capped Male Footballer
On March 23, 2023, Ronaldo scored a brace against Liechtenstein to earn his 197th overall cap to become the most capped male footballer of all time.
Share
2023: Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes
In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked as the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes.
Share
2023: Lisbon City Council Approves Awarding Ronaldo the Medal of Honor
In 2023, the Lisbon City Council approved awarding Ronaldo the Medal of Honor of the City.
Share
2024: Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes
In 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked as the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes.
Share