Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Cristiano Ronaldo
How Cristiano Ronaldo built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Cristiano Ronaldo, known as CR7, is a Portuguese professional footballer widely considered one of the greatest. He captains both Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team. His numerous accolades include five Ballon d'Ors, a record three UEFA Men's Player of the Year Awards, and four European Golden Shoes. He has won 34 trophies, including five UEFA Champions Leagues and the UEFA European Championship. Ronaldo holds records for most Champions League goals (140) and assists (42), European Championship goals (14) and assists (8), and most international appearances (226) and goals (143). He's the only player to score 100+ goals with four different clubs. With over 1,300 professional appearances and 960+ goals, he is the all-time top goalscorer.
1968: Winner of the Ballon d'Or
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo became United's first Ballon d'Or winner since Best in 1968
1992: Plays for Andorinha
From 1992, Cristiano Ronaldo played for Andorinha, where his father was the kit man.
1995: Plays for Andorinha
Until 1995, Cristiano Ronaldo played for Andorinha, where his father was the kit man.
1997: Signs for Sporting CP
In 1997, at age 12, Cristiano Ronaldo went on a trial with Sporting CP and was signed for £1,500, leading him to move to Lisbon.
August 2002: First Official Match for Sporting CP
On 14 August 2002, at age 17, Cristiano Ronaldo played his first official match for Sporting CP's first team in a UEFA Champions League qualifying round against Inter Milan at José Alvalade Stadium.
August 2003: Signs for Manchester United
On 12 August 2003, Manchester United signed Cristiano Ronaldo for £12 million, an England record for a teenager, making him the first Portuguese player for the club.
August 2003: Premier League Debut
On 16 August 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo debuted as a substitute in a 4-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League.
August 2003: Debut for Portugal
On 20 August 2003, at the age of 18, Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal as a substitute against Kazakhstan.
2003: International Debut for Portugal
In 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal at the age of 18.
2003: Signs for Manchester United
In 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Manchester United and later debuted for Portugal's national team at age 18.
May 2004: FA Cup Final Victory
On 15 May 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opening goal in a victory against Aston Villa and received his first red card. He later scored the opening goal in United's 3-0 win over Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup Final.
2004: Start of matches in 2005
Cristiano Ronaldo played two of his best matches of the 2004–05 season at the start of 2005, producing a goal and an assist against Aston Villa and scoring twice against rivals Arsenal.
2004: Aid to Tsunami Victims
In 2004, after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Ronaldo visited Aceh, Indonesia, to raise funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction after seeing a survivor wearing a Portuguese football shirt.
2005: Strong performances against Aston Villa and Arsenal
At the start of 2005, Cristiano 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.
2006: CR7 Fashion 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.
2007: C.D. Nacional renames its youth campus
In 2007, C.D. Nacional renamed its youth campus Cristiano Ronaldo Campus Futebol (Cristiano Ronaldo Football Campus).
2007: First Ballon d'Or
In 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo earned his first Ballon d'Or at age 23 after his performance in the 2007-08 season.
2007: Moments Autobiography Published
In 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo's autobiography, titled Moments, was published.
January 2008: First Hat-Trick for Manchester United
On 12 January 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first hat-trick for Manchester United in a 6–0 win against Newcastle United.
2008: CR7 Fashion Boutique Opening in Lisbon
In 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo opened a second CR7 fashion boutique in Lisbon.
2008: Face of Pro Evolution Soccer
In 2008, Ronaldo appeared on the cover of Pro Evolution Soccer.
2008: Donation to Charity in Madeira
In 2008, Ronaldo donated undisclosed damages from a libel case against The Sun newspaper to a charity in Madeira.
2008: Best-selling Premier League sports product
In 2008, Ronaldo's number 7 Manchester United shirt was the best-selling Premier League sports product.
2009: Joins Real Madrid
In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for a then-record transfer fee of €94 million (£80 million).
2009: Donation for Cancer Center
In 2009, Ronaldo donated £100,000 to the hospital in Madeira that saved his mother's life from cancer, to build a cancer center on the island.
2010: Ranked Second Highest-Paid Athlete
From 2010 to 2019, 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 shirt
In 2010, following Raúl's departure, Cristiano Ronaldo was given the No. 7 shirt for the 2010–11 season.
2010: Support for Madeira Flood Victims
In 2010, in support of the victims of the Madeira flood, Ronaldo pledged to play in a charity match in Madeira between Primeira Liga club Porto and players from Madeiran-based clubs Marítimo and Nacional.
December 2011: Heads Up with Cristiano iPhone Game Launch
In December 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo launched an iPhone game called Heads Up with Cristiano, created by developer RockLive.
2011: Runner-up in FIFA Ballon d'Or
In 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo finished as 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 Season
In the 2011-12 season, Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid win La Liga with a record-breaking 100 points.
March 2012: Scored 100th league goal for Madrid
On March 24, 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th league goal for Madrid in a 5–1 win over Real Sociedad, breaking the previous club record.
November 2012: Nike Mercurial Vapor CR7 edition
Since November 2012, Ronaldo has worn the Nike Mercurial Vapor personalised CR7 edition.
December 2012: Joins FIFA's "11 for Health" Programme
In December 2012, Ronaldo joined FIFA's "11 for Health" programme to raise awareness among kids of how to avoid drug addiction, HIV, malaria, and obesity.
2012: Named in Euro Team of the Tournament
At Euro 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo was named in the team of the tournament.
2012: First time as captain for Madrid
In 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo captained Madrid for the first time in an official match on January 6, scoring twice to lead Madrid to a 4–3 win over Sociedad.
2012: Ronaldo comments on his rivalry with Messi
In 2012, Ronaldo commented on his rivalry with Messi, acknowledging the competition between them while Messi denied any rivalry, attributing it to media pressure. Ronaldo stated they don't have a personal relationship but hopes they can view the rivalry positively in the future.
2012: Entered Forbes Top 10
In 2012, Ronaldo entered Forbes' top 10 highest-paid athletes list since the ranking's inception.
2012: Madrid won their first La Liga title since 2012
In the 2016-17 season, Madrid won their first La Liga title since 2012. He finished the season with 42 goals in all competitions.
January 2013: Becomes Save the Children's Global Artist Ambassador
In January 2013, Ronaldo became Save the Children's new Global Artist Ambassador, with the goal of helping to fight child hunger and obesity.
March 2013: Ambassador for Mangrove Care Forum Bali
In March 2013, Ronaldo agreed to be the ambassador for the Mangrove Care Forum Bali in Indonesia, an organisation aiming to raise awareness of mangrove conservation.
October 2013: Blatter's Comments and Ronaldo's Response
In October 2013, during a debate at Oxford Union, FIFA president Sepp Blatter made disparaging comments about Ronaldo, leading to a demand and receipt of an apology from Real Madrid. Ronaldo responded with a mock-salute celebration after scoring a penalty against Sevilla.
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 sock line under his CR7 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 December 2013, Ronaldo opened a museum, Museu CR7, 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.
2013: Adapting his Style
From 2013 onwards, under manager Carlo Ancelotti, 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: Ronaldo's "Siu" Celebration
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo started performing his signature "Siu" goal celebration, involving a jump, turn, and spread-eagled landing, accompanied by exclaiming "Sí". This celebration became widely imitated and iconic.
2013: Won FIFA Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year
In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo won the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award for the first time in his career, with 69 goals scored in 2013.
2013: Highest Recorded Jump in Football History
In 2013, 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: Face of Pro Evolution Soccer
In 2013, Ronaldo appeared on the cover of Pro Evolution Soccer.
May 2014: Most Marketable Football Player
In May 2014, Repucom named Ronaldo the most marketable and most recognized football player in the world.
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.
2014: Champions League Win
In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo was at the forefront of Real Madrid's Champions League win.
2014: Received 2014 Ballon d'Or
In 2014, after winning the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo received the 2014 Ballon d'Or, joining Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten as a three-time recipient.
September 2015: Legacy Fragrance Release
In September 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo released his own fragrance, "Legacy", in partnership with Eden Parfums.
September 2015: Became 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.
2015: Most Charitable Sportsperson
In 2015, Ronaldo was named the world's most charitable sportsperson after donating £5 million to relief efforts after the earthquake in Nepal.
2015: Second Best-Selling Shirt Worldwide
In 2015, Ronaldo's number 7 Real Madrid shirt was the second best-selling worldwide, after Messi's number 10 Barcelona shirt.
June 2016: Sponsorship Earnings on Social Media
Between June 2016 and June 2017, Ronaldo's sponsors earned $936 million in media value across his social media accounts.
June 2016: Donation of Champions League Bonus
In June 2016, Ronaldo donated his entire €600,000 Champions League bonus after Real Madrid won the competition.
July 2016: Madeira Airport Renamed
On July 23, 2016, Madeira Airport in Funchal was renamed Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, leading to local debate.
2016: Ballon d'Or win
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo won another Ballon d'Or.
2016: Won Ballon d'Or and The Best FIFA Men's Player
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo won the 2016 Ballon d'Or, his fourth, and the inaugural 2016 The Best FIFA Men's Player award.
2016: Forbes' Highest-Paid Athlete
In 2016, Forbes ranked Ronaldo as the highest-paid athlete in the world, with earnings of $88 million.
2016: UEFA Euro 2016 Victory and Ballon d'Or
In 2016, 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.
2016: Goalscoring Record
In 2016, Ronaldo reached the same goalscoring record as in 2023.
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.
March 2017: Unveiling of Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport
On March 29, 2017, the rebranded Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport was unveiled, including a bust of Ronaldo which was met with controversy due to its lack of likeness.
June 2017: Sponsorship Earnings on Social Media
Between June 2016 and June 2017, Ronaldo's sponsors earned $936 million in media value across his social media accounts.
2017: Ballon d'Or win
In 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo secured another Ballon d'Or.
2017: Awarded The Best FIFA Men's Player award and Ballon d'Or
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 on the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
2017: Forbes' Highest-Paid Athlete
In 2017, Forbes ranked Ronaldo as the highest-paid athlete in the world, with earnings of $93 million.
2017: Free-Roaming Centre Forward
Since 2017, 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.
April 2018: Scored bicycle kick against Juventus
On April 3, 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo scored an acrobatic bicycle kick in a 3–0 away win against Juventus in the quarter-finals of the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League, garnering a standing ovation.
June 2018: New Bust Unveiled
In June 2018, a new bust of Ronaldo, created by a Spanish sculptor, was shown to the public, after the first one was ridiculed.
2018: Prolific World Cup Campaign
During the 2018 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo had his most prolific World Cup campaign with four goals.
2018: Joined Juventus
In 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus for €100 million and on August 18, 2018, Ronaldo made his debut in a 3–2 away win against Chievo Verona.
2018: 2018 World Cup Hat-trick and Record
In the 2018 World Cup, 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.
2018: Won the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana
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: Won first trophy with Juventus
On January 16, 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo won his first trophy with Juventus, the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana, after scoring the only goal against AC Milan.
August 2019: Ronaldo and Messi Reflect on Rivalry
In August 2019, during an interview before the UEFA Men's Player of the Year announcement, Ronaldo stated that his rivalry with Messi pushed them both, considering it a positive part of football history.
2019: Ranked Second Highest-Paid Athlete
From 2010 to 2019, Ronaldo earned €720 million (£615 million), ranking second in Forbes' list of the decade's highest-paid athletes, behind Floyd Mayweather Jr.
2019: UEFA Nations League win
In 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Nations League.
January 2020: Scored First Serie A Hat-Trick
On January 6, 2020, Cristiano 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 Academy Renamed
On September 21, 2020, Sporting CP's football academy in Alcochete was renamed Academia Cristiano Ronaldo.
2020: Euro Top Scorer
Cristiano Ronaldo received the Golden Boot as the top scorer of Euro 2020.
2020: Euro 2020 Golden Boot
In 2020, Ronaldo received the Golden Boot as top scorer of Euro 2020. Ronaldo also became the first player to score at five European Championships.
March 2021: Scored in his 600th league match
On March 2, 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal 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.
2021: Returns to Manchester United
In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United.
2021: Sportico's Third Highest-Paid Athlete
In 2021, Sportico named Ronaldo the third highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $120 million.
December 2022: Joined Al-Nassr
On December 30, 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo reached an agreement with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, signing a contract until 2025.
2022: Fifth World Cup Appearance
Cristiano Ronaldo played in his fifth World Cup at the 2022 World Cup.
2022: Sportico's Third Highest-Paid Athlete
In 2022, Sportico named Ronaldo the third highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $115 million.
2022: First Player to Score at Five World Cups
In the 2022 World Cup, on 24 November, Ronaldo became the first player to score at five World Cups, netting a penalty against Ghana.
January 2023: Made debut for Al-Nassr
On January 22, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut for Al-Nassr as club captain, playing the full 90 minutes.
March 2023: Most Capped Male Footballer of All Time
On 23 March 2023, Ronaldo scored a brace against Liechtenstein as he earned his 197th overall cap to become the most capped male footballer of all time.
September 2023: Ronaldo Declares Rivalry with Messi Over
In September 2023, after 15 years of competition, Ronaldo declared his rivalry with Messi as "over" and "gone".
October 2023: Investment in Medialivre
Since 26 October 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo, through his Portuguese company Expressão Livre, is part of a group of investors who are the new owners of Medialivre (Correio da Manhã, Record and Jornal de Negócios publisher).
2023: Forbes' Highest-Paid Athlete
In 2023, Forbes ranked Ronaldo as the highest-paid athlete in the world, with earnings of $275 million.
2023: Top Scorer in 2023
In 2023, 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.
May 2024: Breaks Saudi Pro League Goal Record
On 27 May 2024, 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.
August 2024: Fastest Growing YouTube Channel
On August 21, 2024, Ronaldo's YouTube channel, UR · Cristiano, became the fastest to reach 1 million subscribers (in 90 minutes) and also the fastest to reach 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 million subscribers.
2024: League's Top Scorer for a Second Time
In 2024, Ronaldo finished the 2024–25 season with 25 league goals, becoming the league's top scorer for a second consecutive time.
2024: Sportico's Highest-Paid Athlete
In 2024, Sportico named Ronaldo the highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $260 million.
2024: First Player to Feature in Six European Championships
In Portugal's UEFA Euro 2024 opener against the Czech Republic, Ronaldo became the first player to feature in six European Championships, having previously been the first player to appear in five.
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, from the Fast & Furious franchise.
2025: UEFA Nations League win
In 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Nations League.
2025: Forbes' Highest-Paid Athlete
In 2025, Forbes ranked Ronaldo as the highest-paid athlete in the world, with earnings of $275 million.
2025: Contract End with Al-Nassr
On December 30, 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo reached an agreement with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, signing a contract until 2025.
February 2026: Acquisition of UD Almería Ownership Stake
On 26 February 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo acquired a 25% ownership stake in Spanish club UD Almería as part of his investment activities through CR7 Sports Investments, a subsidiary of CR7 S.A.
2026: Record Goals in World Cup Qualifying
On 14 October, in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Ronaldo scored twice in a 2–2 draw against Hungary , reaching a record 41 goals in World Cup qualifying.
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