135 Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo has won five Ballon d'Or awards and four European Golden Shoes, the most by a European player.

Cristiano Ronaldo has won 32 trophies in his career, including seven league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, the UEFA European Championship and the UEFA Nations League.

Cristiano Ronaldo holds the records for most appearances, goals, and assists in the Champions League, goals in the European Championship, international goals, and international appearances.

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the few players to have made over 1,100 professional career appearances, and has scored over 800 official senior career goals for club and country.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player to score in five different FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Cristiano Ronaldo began his senior career with Sporting CP, before signing with Manchester United in 2003, winning the FA Cup in his first season.

Cristiano Ronaldo would go on to win three consecutive Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup; at age 23, he won his first Ballon d'Or.

Cristiano Ronaldo became a key contributor and formed an attacking trio with Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale which was integral to the team winning four Champions League wins from 2014 to 2018, including La Decima.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the club's all-time top goalscorer and the all-time top scorer in the Champions League, and finished as the competition's top scorer for six consecutive seasons between 2012 and 2018.

Cristiano Ronaldo won two Serie A titles, two Supercoppa Italiana trophies and a Coppa Italia, became the inaugural Serie A Most Valuable Player and became the first footballer to finish as top scorer in the English, Spanish and Italian leagues.

Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in 2021, finishing his only full season as the club's top scorer, before his contract was terminated in 2022.

Cristiano Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal in 2003 at the age of 18 and has since earned over 190 caps, making him Portugal's most-capped player.

Cristiano Ronaldo has played in and scored at 11 major tournaments; he scored his first international goal at Euro 2004, where he helped Portugal reach the final.

Cristiano Ronaldo assumed captaincy of the national team in July 2008.

In 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of all time by the Portuguese Football Federation.

Cristiano Ronaldo led them to victory in the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019, receiving the top scorer award in the finals, and later received the Golden Boot as top scorer of Euro 2020.

One of the world's most marketable and famous athletes, Cristiano Ronaldo was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2016 and 2017 and the world's most famous athlete by ESPN from 2016 to 2019.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the first footballer and the third sportsman to earn US$1 billion in his career.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on 5 February 1985 in the Sao Pedro parish of Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, and grew up in the nearby parish of Santo Antonio.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the fourth and youngest child of Maria Dolores dos Santos Viveiros da Aveiro, a cook, and Jose Dinis Aveiro, a municipal gardener and part-time kit man.

Cristiano Ronaldo has one older brother, Hugo, and two older sisters, Elma and Liliana Catia "Katia".

Cristiano Ronaldo's mother revealed that she wanted to abort him due to poverty, his father's alcoholism, and having too many children already, but her doctor refused to perform the procedure, as abortions were illegal in Portugal at that time.

Cristiano Ronaldo grew up in an impoverished Catholic Christian home, sharing a room with all his siblings.

Cristiano Ronaldo subsequently moved from Madeira to Alcochete, near Lisbon, to join Sporting's youth academy.

Cristiano Ronaldo underwent heart surgery where a laser was used to cauterise multiple cardiac pathways into one, altering his resting heart rate.

Cristiano Ronaldo was discharged from the hospital hours after the procedure and resumed training a few days later.

At age 16, Cristiano Ronaldo was promoted from Sporting's youth team by first-team manager Laszlo Boloni, who was impressed with his dribbling.

Cristiano Ronaldo subsequently became the first player to play for the club's under-16, under-17 and under-18 teams, the B team and the first team, all within a single season.

Cristiano Ronaldo's performance earned praise from Best, who hailed it as "undoubtedly the most exciting debut" he had ever seen.

Cristiano Ronaldo's feet are mesmerising at times, and if he can couple that with some consistently good crossing, the future looks frightening.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a one-match ban imposed on him by UEFA for a "one-fingered gesture" towards Benfica fans, and was sent off in the Manchester derby for kicking Manchester City's former United player Andy Cole.

Cristiano Ronaldo clashed with a teammate, striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took offence at the winger's showboating style of play.

Cristiano Ronaldo won the Professional Footballers' Association's Player's Player, Fans' Player and Young Player of the Year awards, as well as the Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year award, becoming the first player to win all four main PFA and FWA honours.

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

Cristiano Ronaldo additionally received the PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards for the second consecutive season.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed three matches after headbutting a Portsmouth player at the start of the season, an experience he said taught him not to let opponents provoke him.

At the close of 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo helped United win the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, assisting the final-winning goal against Liga de Quito and winning the Silver Ball in the process.

Cristiano Ronaldo ended his time in England with nine trophies, as United claimed their third successive league title and a Football League Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo finished the campaign with 26 goals in all competitions, 16 goals fewer than the previous season, in four more appearances.

Since club captain Raul already wore the number 7, Cristiano Ronaldo received the number 9 shirt, which was presented to him by former Madrid player Alfredo Di Stefano.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored in each of his first four league games, the first Madrid player to do so.

Midway through the season, Cristiano Ronaldo finished second in the 2009 Ballon d'Or and the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year awards, behind Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo subsequently scored further hat-tricks against Athletic Bilbao, Levante, Villarreal and Malaga.

Cristiano Ronaldo finished as runner-up to Messi for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or, after scoring hat-tricks against Real Zaragoza, Rayo Vallecano, Malaga, Osasuna and Sevilla, the last of which put Madrid on top of the league by the season's midway point.

Cristiano Ronaldo found greater team success in the league, helping Madrid win their first league title in four years with a record 100 points.

Cristiano Ronaldo helped Madrid reach the 2013 Copa del Rey Final by scoring twice in El Clasico, which marked the sixth successive match at Camp Nou in which he had scored, a club record.

Cristiano Ronaldo did not celebrate scoring against his former club as a mark of respect.

Cristiano Ronaldo ended 2013 with 69 goals in 59 appearances, his highest year-end goal tally.

Cristiano Ronaldo received the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or, an amalgamation of the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, for the first time in his career.

Concurrently with his individual achievements, Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed his greatest team success in Spain to date, as he helped Madrid win La Decima, their tenth European Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo played the final against medical advice, later commenting: "In your life you do not win without sacrifices and you must take risks".

Cristiano Ronaldo scored 31 goals in 30 league games, which earned him the Pichichi and the European Golden Shoe, receiving the latter award jointly with Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

Cristiano Ronaldo subsequently achieved his best-ever goalscoring start to a league campaign, with 15 goals in the first eight rounds.

Cristiano Ronaldo finished the season with 48 goals, winning a second consecutive Pichichi and the European Golden Shoe for a record fourth time.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time top scorer in the Champions League with a hat-trick in the first group match against Shakhtar Donetsk, having finished the previous season level with Messi on 77 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo subsequently became the first player to score double figures in the competition's group stage, setting the record at 11 goals, including another four-goal haul against Malmo.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against VfL Wolfsburg to send his club into the Champions League semi-finals.

Cristiano Ronaldo finished the tournament as top scorer with four goals and was named player of the tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo won the 2016 Ballon d'Or, his fourth, and the inaugural 2016 The Best FIFA Men's Player, a revival of the former FIFA World Player of the Year, largely owing to his success with Portugal in winning Euro 2016.

Cristiano Ronaldo finished the season with 42 goals in all competitions as he helped Madrid to win their first La Liga title since 2012.

Cristiano Ronaldo finished as the top scorer of the tournament for the sixth consecutive season with 15 goals.

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

Cristiano Ronaldo finished his second league campaign with 31 goals, making him the second-highest goalscorer in the league behind only European Golden Shoe winner Ciro Immobile, with 36 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo ended the season with 29 league goals, winning the Capocannoniere award for highest goalscorer and becoming the first footballer to finish as top scorer in the English, Spanish and Italian leagues.

Cristiano Ronaldo was given the number 7 shirt after Edinson Cavani agreed to switch to 21.

Ten days later, Cristiano Ronaldo refused to be brought on as a substitute during a home game against Tottenham and left the ground before the full-time whistle; Ten Hag punished him by dropping him from the squad for an upcoming fixture with Chelsea, and made him train separately from the first team.

Cristiano Ronaldo then missed United's following matches before the World Cup break, with Ten Hag saying that Cristiano Ronaldo was ill.

Cristiano Ronaldo claimed that ten Hag deliberately provoked him by first leaving him on the bench against City, and then wanting to bring him on in the final moments against Tottenham, but added that he regretted his decision to leave early.

Cristiano Ronaldo questioned the appointment of Rangnick the previous season as he was a "sporting director and not even a coach".

Cristiano Ronaldo claimed that the Glazer family "did not care about the club" as he never spoke with them, and described United as a "marketing club".

On 30 December 2022, Saudi club Al Nassr reached an agreement for Cristiano Ronaldo to join the club effective 1 January 2023, signing a contract until 2025.

Cristiano Ronaldo began his international career with Portugal under-15 in 2001.

Cristiano Ronaldo was featured in the team of the tournament, having provided two assists in addition to his two goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo was Portugal's second-highest scorer in their qualification group for the 2006 FIFA World Cup with seven goals.

At the age of 21 years and 132 days, Cristiano Ronaldo became the youngest ever goalscorer for Portugal at a World Cup finals.

In Portugal's infamously dirty round of 16 match against the Netherlands, Cristiano Ronaldo was forced off injured in the first half after a tackle from Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz.

In Portugal's quarter-final against England, Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off for stamping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho.

Cristiano Ronaldo went on to score the vital winning penalty during the shoot-out which sent Portugal into the semi-finals.

One day after turning 22, Cristiano Ronaldo captained Portugal for the first time in a friendly game against Brazil on 6 February 2007, as requested by Portuguese Football Federation president Carlos Silva, who had died two days earlier.

Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score a single goal in the qualification for the 2010 World Cup, as Portugal narrowly avoided a premature elimination from the tournament with a play-off victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored seven goals in qualifications for Euro 2012, including two strikes against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs, to send Portugal into the tournament, where they were drawn in a "group of death".

Cristiano Ronaldo did not take a penalty as he had been slated to take the unused fifth slot.

Cristiano Ronaldo took part in the tournament despite suffering from patellar tendinitis and a related thigh injury, potentially risking his career.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored five goals, including a hat-trick against Armenia, in the qualification for Euro 2016.

At the start of the tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo failed to convert his chances in Portugal's draws against Iceland and Austria, despite taking 20 shots on goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded the Silver Boot as the joint second-highest goalscorer, with three goals and three assists, and was named to the team of the tournament for the third time in his career.

Cristiano Ronaldo was named man of the match in all three of Portugal's group stage matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick took his World Cup qualifying goals total to 29, making him the highest scorer in UEFA qualifiers, ahead of Andriy Shevchenko, and the highest goalscorer in World Cup qualifying and finals matches combined with 32 goals, ahead of Miroslav Klose.

Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record for scoring against the most national teams, 40, while completing his eighth international hat-trick.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at five Euros, and in eleven consecutive tournaments.

Cristiano Ronaldo finished the tournament with five goals and one assist, earning him the Golden Boot.

Cristiano Ronaldo was named in Portugal's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, making it his fifth World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped from the starting line-up for Portugal's last 16 match against Switzerland, marking the first time since Euro 2008 that he had not started a game for Portugal in a major international tournament, and the first time Portugal had started a knockout game without Ronaldo in the starting line-up at an international tournament since Euro 2000.

Cristiano Ronaldo became noted for his dribbling and flair, often displaying an array of tricks and feints, such as the step overs and so-called 'chops' that became his trademark; he has been known to use the flip-flap.

Cristiano Ronaldo has increasingly played a creative role for his team, often dropping deep to pick up the ball, participate in the build-up of plays and create chances for his teammates, courtesy of his vision and passing ability.

Cristiano Ronaldo developed into a prolific goalscorer, capable of finishing well both inside the penalty area and from distance with an accurate and powerful shot, courtesy of his striking ability.

When taking free kicks, Cristiano Ronaldo is known for using the knuckleball technique, which was developed by Juninho Pernambucano.

Cristiano Ronaldo adopts a trademark stance before striking the ball, which involves him standing with his legs far apart.

At Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo continued to play a more offensive role, while his creative and defensive duties became more limited, although not entirely diminished.

Cristiano Ronaldo continued to play a similar role in his second season with the club under manager Maurizio Sarri.

Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the two best players of his generation, alongside Lionel Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo is noted for his work ethic, elite body conditioning and dedication to improvement on the training pitch, as well being regarded as a natural leader.

Cristiano Ronaldo is credited, along with his compatriot, coach Jose Mourinho, with inspiring changing fortunes of Portuguese football in 2010s and 2020s.

Cristiano Ronaldo was occasionally criticised early in his career by manager Alex Ferguson, teammates and the media for being a selfish or overly flamboyant player.

Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian opined that Cristiano Ronaldo had made Juventus, who he joined aged 33 in 2018, weaker, due to "his relative immobility" in his mid-30s, even if his personal goal-scoring output remained high.

Cristiano Ronaldo is often seen moaning, gesticulating and scowling while trying to inspire his team to victory, with Ronaldo insisting that his competitive nature should not be mistaken for arrogance.

Cristiano Ronaldo has adopted several goal celebrations throughout his career, including one particular celebration which gained widespread coverage in the media, when he squatted and stared directly into a camera on the sidelines of the pitch with his hand on his chin.

Part of the debate revolves around the contrasting personalities of the two players, as Cristiano Ronaldo is sometimes depicted as an arrogant and theatrical showoff, while Messi is portrayed as a shy, humble character.

Cristiano Ronaldo tries to do his best for his club and for his national team, as I do, and there is a degree of rivalry with both of us trying to do the best for the teams we represent.

Cristiano Ronaldo was featured as the cover star of EA Sports' FIFA video game FIFA 18 and was heavily involved in the game's promotion.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the face of Pro Evolution Soccer, appearing on the covers of the 2008,2012 and 2013 editions of the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the first footballer and only the third sportsman to earn $1 billion in their career.

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the world's most marketable sportsmen: SportsPro rated him the fifth most marketable athlete in 2012 and eighth most marketable athlete in 2013, with Brazilian footballer Neymar topping both lists.

Cristiano Ronaldo was additionally named in the 2014 Time 100, Times annual list of the most influential people in the world.

Cristiano Ronaldo's autobiography, titled Moments, was published in December 2007.

Demand for a replica Cristiano Ronaldo shirt has been high throughout his career.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened a fashion boutique under the name CR7 on the island of Madeira in 2006 and opened a second in Lisbon in 2008.

In partnership with Scandinavian manufacturer JBS Textile Group and the New York fashion designer Richard Chai, Cristiano Ronaldo co-designed a range of underwear and sock line, released in November 2013.

Cristiano Ronaldo expanded his CR7 fashion brand by launching a line of premium shirts and shoes in July 2014.

In September 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo released his own fragrance, "Legacy", in a partnership with Eden Parfums.

In December 2013, Cristiano 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 Uniao da Madeira.

In June 2010, during the build-up to the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo became the fourth footballer to be represented as a waxwork at Madame Tussauds London.

The bust and the name change were controversial, with the lack of the bust's likeness to Cristiano Ronaldo being ridiculed by comedians, including Saturday Night Live, while the name change was subject to much debate locally by some politicians and citizens, who even started a petition against the move, an action criticised by President of Madeira Miguel Albuquerque.

Cristiano Ronaldo first became a father to a son, who was born on 17 June 2010 in the United States.

Cristiano Ronaldo has full custody of the child and has not publicly revealed the identity of the mother per an agreement with her.

Cristiano Ronaldo became a father to twins, born on 8 June 2017 in the United States via surrogacy.

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently in a relationship with Argentine-born Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez, who gave birth to a daughter on 12 November 2017.

In January 2023, after Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia with his family having been signed by Saudi Premier League side Al Nassr FC, the rulers of the Muslim-leaning Kingdom made Cristiano Ronaldo an exception to the rule that unmarried couples are not allowed to live together in Saudi Arabia.

Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he does not drink alcohol, and he received libel damages over a Daily Mirror article that reported him drinking heavily in a nightclub while recovering from an injury in July 2008.

Cristiano Ronaldo has made contributions to various charitable causes throughout his career.

In support of the victims of the 2010 Madeira flood, Cristiano Ronaldo pledged to play in a charity match in Madeira between Primeira Liga club Porto and players from Madeiran-based clubs Maritimo and Nacional.

In December 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo joined FIFA's "11 for Health" programme to raise awareness amongst kids of how to steer clear of conditions including drug addiction, HIV, malaria, and obesity.

In January 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo became Save the Children's new Global Artist Ambassador, in which he hopes to help fight child hunger and obesity.

In March 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo agreed to be the ambassador for The Mangrove Care Forum in Indonesia, an organisation aiming to raise awareness of mangrove conservation.

Additionally, Albregts stated that no evidence was found of Cristiano Ronaldo's lawyers having "intimidated [the woman] or impeded law enforcement" during the 2010 settlement with her.