Cristiano Ronaldo's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo, often called CR7, is a Portuguese professional footballer renowned as one of the greatest of all time. He currently plays for Al-Nassr and captains the Portugal national team. He boasts numerous individual awards, including five Ballon d'Or titles, record-setting UEFA Men's Player of the Year awards, and four European Golden Shoes. His trophy cabinet includes seven league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, and a UEFA European Championship. Ronaldo holds Champions League records for goals (140) and assists (42) and European Championship records for goals (14) and assists (8), and international records for appearances (221) and goals (138). Having made over 1,200 career appearances, he's the outfield player with the most appearances, and his over 900 official senior career goals make him the all-time top goalscorer.

Sections (7)

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

May 2004: FA Cup Final Win

On 15 May 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opening goal in a victory against Aston Villa and later received the first red card of his career. He ended his first season in English football with a trophy, scoring the opening goal in United's 3–0 win over Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup Final.

2004: First International Goal and Euro 2004

In 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first international goal against Greece at UEFA Euro 2004 and was named in the team of the tournament.

2006: Awards Nomination

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, becoming the first player to win all four main PFA and FWA honors.

2007: Awards Nominations

In 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo was named runner-up to Kaká for the 2007 Ballon d'Or, and came third, behind Kaká and Lionel Messi, in the running for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year award.

2008: Winning first Ballon d'Or

Winning his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 by a record-high vote count at age 23

2010: 2010 World Cup

During the 2010 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo scored only one goal but was named man of the match in all three group stage matches.

2010: Ronaldo's Earnings from 2010 to 2019

From 2010 to 2019, Ronaldo earned €720 million (£615 million) and was ranked second in Forbes list of the decade's highest-paid athletes, behind Floyd Mayweather Jr.

2010: Wins Copa del Rey with Real Madrid

In 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 53 goals and helped Real Madrid win the Copa del Rey, which was his first trophy with the club.

2011: Record-Breaking La Liga Title Win

In 2011-12, Cristiano Ronaldo was integral to Real Madrid winning a record-breaking La Liga title.

2012: Euro Team of the Tournament

At Euro 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo was named to the team of the tournament.

2012: Champions League Top Scorer

Between 2012 and 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo finished as the Champions League's top scorer for six consecutive seasons while at Real Madrid.

2012: UEFA Euro 2012

In 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo was joint top scorer at UEFA Euro 2012 and was included in the team of the tournament.

2013: Highest Recorded Jump

In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo achieved the highest recorded jump in football history, measuring 2.93 metres, during a match against Manchester United.

2013: Forbes Ranking as Highest-Paid Football Player

In 2013, Forbes ranked 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: Eighth Most Marketable Athlete

In 2013, SportsPro rated Ronaldo the eighth most marketable athlete.

January 2014: Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry

In January 2014, 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 contributions to Portugal's international image.

May 2014: Most Marketable Football Player

In May 2014, Repucom named Ronaldo the most marketable and most recognised football player in the world.

2014: Champions League Win

From 2014 to 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid win four Champions League titles, including La Décima.

2014: Forbes Ranking as Highest-Paid Football Player

In 2013-2014, Ronaldo's combined income from salaries, bonuses and endorsements was $73 million and in 2014-2015 it was $79 million, earning him the title of the world's highest-paid football player twice.

2014: 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.

2014: Included 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.

June 2015: Galaxy Named After Ronaldo

In June 2015, astronomers discovered a galaxy which they named Cosmos Redshift 7 (CR7) in tribute to Ronaldo.

2015: Forbes Ranking as Highest-Paid Football Player

In 2014-2015, Ronaldo's combined income from salaries, bonuses and endorsements was $79 million, earning him the title of the world's highest-paid football player.

2015: UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year

In 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo was named in the UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year.

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.

2015: 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 which killed over 8,000 people.

2016: Goalscoring record

Cristiano Ronaldo reached the same goalscoring record as in 2016 after scoring 54 goals in all competitions for Al-Nassr and Portugal.

2016: Euro Victory and Silver Boot

In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to their first major tournament title at Euro 2016, being named in the team of the tournament for the third time and receiving the Silver Boot as the second-highest goalscorer. He also received his fourth Ballon d'Or.

2016: UEFA Euro 2016 Victory

In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to victory at UEFA Euro 2016. He received the Silver Boot and his fourth Ballon d'Or later that year.

2016: Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes

In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes.

2016: ESPN Names Ronaldo World's Most Famous Athlete

In 2016, ESPN named Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete.

2016: First Footballer to Top Forbes List

In 2016, Ronaldo became the first footballer to top the Forbes list of highest-earning athletes, with a total income of $88 million from his salary and endorsements in 2015–16.

2017: Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes

In 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes.

2017: ESPN Names Ronaldo World's Most Famous Athlete

In 2017, ESPN named Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete.

April 2018: Acrobatic bicycle kick goal against Juventus

On 3 April 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo scored an acrobatic bicycle kick goal against Juventus in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

2018: Prolific World Cup Campaign

In 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo had his most prolific World Cup campaign and was voted in the Fan Dream Team.

2018: ESPN Names Ronaldo World's Most Famous Athlete

In 2018, ESPN named Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete.

2018: Wins first trophy with Juventus

In January 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo won his first trophy with Juventus, the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana.

2018: Steve Nash compared Ronaldo to Michael Jordan

In a 2018 article for Bleacher Report, former NBA star Steve Nash compared Ronaldo to Michael Jordan: 'On the pitch, [Ronaldo's] learned how to make his play—less explosive in individual movements—more successful for the team, and in that, I see the greatness of Jordan.' In the same article, Ronaldo was ranked first in the ranking of the 50 most influential people in sports culture for 2018.

2018: 2018 World Cup

In the 2018 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match and broke the record for the highest European goalscorer of all time. He was named in the World Cup Dream Team.

January 2019: Wins first trophy with Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo won his first trophy with Juventus on 16 January 2019, the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana, after he scored the only goal from a header against AC Milan.

2019: Ronaldo's Earnings from 2010 to 2019

From 2010 to 2019, Ronaldo earned €720 million (£615 million) and was ranked 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, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked the world's most famous athlete by ESPN.

2019: UEFA Nations League Victory

In 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to victory in the inaugural UEFA Nations League, receiving the top scorer award in the finals.

2019: ESPN Names Ronaldo World's Most Famous Athlete

In 2019, ESPN named Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete.

2020: Golden Boot at Euro

At Euro 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo received the Golden Boot as the top scorer.

2020: Euro 2020 Golden Boot

In 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo received the Golden Boot as the 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.

June 2021: Breaks International Goalscoring Record

On June 23, 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals in the Euro 2020 match against France, breaking the men's international goalscoring record previously held by Ali Daei.

2021: FIFA Award for Outstanding Career Achievement

In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo received a special award for Outstanding Career Achievement by FIFA.

2021: Return to Manchester United

In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United and was included in the PFA Team of the Year at 37 years old.

March 2023: Most Capped Male Footballer

On March 23, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace against Liechtenstein, earning his 197th cap to become the most capped male footballer of all time.

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.

2023: Highest-Paid Athlete by Forbes

In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes.

2023: Medal of Honor of the City awarded by Lisbon City Council

In 2023, the Lisbon City Council approved awarding Ronaldo the Medal of Honor of the City, recognizing him as "a great Lisboner" for his passion for the city.

May 2024: Breaks Saudi Pro League Scoring Record

On May 27, 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 34th and 35th league goals in a home fixture, surpassing the record for most goals scored in a single Saudi Pro League season and becoming the first footballer to finish as top scorer in four different leagues.

2024: First Player in Six European Championships

In 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to feature in six European Championships and later scored his 900th career goal in a victory over Croatia.