christopher ronaldo biography

Cristiano Ronaldo

Professional soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner and has set multiple records playing for the Portuguese national team and clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Al-Nassr.

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1985-present

Latest News: Cristiano Ronaldo Scores 900th Goal

It’s up for debate if Cristiano Ronaldo is the GOAT of professional soccer, but one thing is certain—he’s the most prolific scorer in the sport’s history.

The 39-year-old Ronaldo scored in the 34th minute of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League Victory over Croatia on September 5, becoming the first men’s player to reach 900 career goals. “It was emotional because it’s a milestone,” Ronaldo said, according to the Associated Press . “It seems like any other milestone, but only I know, and the people around me, how hard it is to work every day, to be physically and psychologically fit, to score 900 goals. It’s a unique milestone in my career.”

Ronaldo moved 58 goals ahead of Argentinian star Lionel Messi in second place (842), and late Brazilian legend Pelé is third all-time with 765.

A five-time Ballon d’Or winner as the world’s best player, Ronaldo has the most goals in international competition with 132 following another score on Sunday against Scotland. He also currently plays for the Al-Nassr club team in Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo has previously said he hopes to reach 1,000 goals before ending his illustrious career.

Who Is Cristiano Ronaldo?

Quick facts, pro soccer career, height and career stats, partner and children, statue at the madeira airport, sexual assault investigation.

Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest athletes in the sport’s history, winning the Ballon d’Or five times and becoming the first player to score 900 goals across international and club matches. Among his many accomplishments, he led his home country to an emotional victory in the 2016 European Championship. Considered a phenom as a teenager, Ronaldo signed with Manchester United at age 16 for £12 million (over $14 million U.S. dollars), a record fee for a player of his age. He set a franchise record for goals scored in 2008, before Real Madrid paid a record $131 million for his services the following year. He has since played for Italian Serie A club Juventus and Al-Nassr FC of the Saudi Pro League.

FULL NAME: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro BORN: February 5, 1985 BIRTHPLACE: Funchal, Portugal PARTNER: Georgina Rodriguez CHILDREN: Cristiano Jr., Eva Maria, Mateo, Alana Martina, and Bella ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius

Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, a small island off the western coast of the country. Ronaldo is the youngest of four children born to Maria Dolores dos Santos and José Dinis Aveiro. He was named after Ronald Reagan , one of his father's favorite actors.

Ronaldo grew up in a largely working class neighborhood in a small tin-roofed home that overlooked the ocean. Ronaldo was introduced to the game of soccer through his dad, who worked as an equipment manager at a boy’s club.

His early life was shaped by hardship, as his father often drank too much. To help keep the children fed and maintain some financial stability, Ronaldo’s mother worked as a cook and cleaning person.

In 2005, when Ronaldo was playing for Manchester United, his father died from alcohol-related kidney problems; in 2007, his mother struggled with breast cancer. The former was especially hard for Ronaldo since he and his dad had been close.

The young athlete had often pushed for his father to enter rehab and address his drinking. His father, however, never accepted the offer.

By the time he was 10 years old, Ronaldo was already recognized as a phenom—a kid who ate, slept and drank soccer. “All he wanted to do as a boy was play football,” his godfather, Fernao Sousa, recalled for British reporters, adding, “He loved the game so much he’d miss meals or escape out of his bedroom window with a ball when he was supposed to be doing his homework.”

By his early teens, Ronaldo’s talent and legend had grown considerably. After a stint with Nacional da liha da Madeira, he signed with Sporting Portugal in 2001.

Manchester United

In 2001, when Ronaldo was just 16 years old, Manchester United paid more than £12 million to sign him—a record fee for a player of his age.

Ronaldo had turned heads with a mesmerizing performance with Portugal against Manchester, wowing even his opponents with his footwork and deft skill. He made such an impression that a number of United players asked their manager to try and sign the young player, which the team soon did.

Ronaldo did not disappoint the soccer world: He showed his promise early on in the 2004 FA Cup final, scoring the team’s first three goals and helping them capture the championship. In 2007, Ronaldo signed a five-year, £31 million contract.

A year later, Ronaldo again justified his high salary when he put together one of the club’s finest seasons in history, setting a franchise record for goals scored (42), and earning himself the FIFA World Player of the Year honor for 2008. In all, Ronaldo helped steer Manchester United to three Premier League titles.

Real Madrid

In 2009, the Spanish soccer club Real Madrid agreed to pay Manchester United a record $131 million for the chance to sign Ronaldo. Ronaldo’s commitment to Manchester United had come under constant question, and speculation swirled that he wanted to play elsewhere, so nobody was all that surprised to see Ronaldo leave.

“I know that they are going to demand a lot of me to be successful at the club and I know that I’m going to have much more pressure than at Manchester United because I was there for many years,” Ronaldo told reporters. “But it means a new challenge and is going to help me be the best footballer.”

Ronaldo went on to compile an impressive list of individual honors and team trophies. In December 2016, he won his fourth Ballon d’Or award as the sport’s player of the year, beating out FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi .

Ronaldo’s 2016 wins included the European Championship, Champions League and Club World Cup, plus individual awards from UEFA and France Football magazine. The following year, he claimed a fifth Ballon d’Or to tie the mark held by his longtime rival, Messi.

After dropping hints that his time with Real was coming to an end, Ronaldo confirmed the rumors in July 2018 by signing with Italian Serie A club Juventus, which paid a $140 million transfer fee to his old Spanish club.

Ronaldo paid tribute to Real fans in an open letter on the club’s website, writing: “These years at Real Madrid and in this city of Madrid have quite possibly been the happiest years of my life. I only have feelings of great gratitude to this club, to the fans and to the city. I can only give thanks to all of them for the love and affection that I have received.”

By most measures, Ronaldo’s debut season with Juventus was a successful one. He scored 10 times in his first 14 games, and headed home the lone goal in a win over AC Milan for the Supercoppa Italiana trophy. After leading his club to its eighth consecutive Serie A title, he was named the league’s MVP in May 2019.

Transfer to Al-Nassr

Although he left the team after 2008, Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in August 2021. However, his stay would not last long.

In November 2022, the team announced it had reached a mutual agreement to terminate Ronaldo’s contract and that he had left the club effective immediately. The decision came after an eyebrow-raising TV interview with Piers Morgan in which Ronaldo said he “doesn’t respect” team manager Erik ten Hag.

The question of where the coveted free agent would play next lingered into the following month. Finally on December 30, 2022, the Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr FC announced it had landed Ronaldo with a contract lasting through the summer of 2025. According to reports, the annual value of the deal was worth about $200 million —including a $75 million playing salary and the chance to earn the rest through commercial agreements. “In Europe my work, it’s done. I won everything,” Ronaldo said of the move. “I played the most important clubs in Europe and for me now, it’s a new challenge.”

Ronaldo made his debut on January 22, 2023, and scored a league-high 35 goals across his first season. He said in August 2024 he plans to retire with the team within a couple years.

Portugal National Team

On July 10, 2016, Ronaldo added an emotional victory to his collection. As his national team’s captain, Ronaldo led Portugal to the European Championship final against France.

Although he was sidelined after suffering a knee injury 25 minutes into the match, Portugal went on to win the championship title 1-0, their first international trophy. Ronaldo’s teammates said that he motivated them as team captain from the sidelines. “He gave us a lot of confidence and he said, ‘Listen people, I’m sure we will win this Euro so stay together and fight for it,’” fullback Cedric Soares said after Portugal’s victory.

“This is one of the happiest moments in my career,” Ronaldo commented. “I’ve always said I wanted to win a trophy with the national team and make history. And I did it. Thank God, things went well for us.”

Ronaldo got off to a tremendous start at the 2018 World Cup, blasting home three goals in an opening draw vs. Spain, before adding another vs. Morocco to set a European record with his 85th international goal. However, he was held scoreless in a 2-1 loss to Uruguay in the knockout stage, after which he declined to comment on his future with the national team.

He returned for the 2022 World Cup, but started on the bench for the team’s knockout games in the round of 16 and quarterfinals. Despite entering the latter match, Ronaldo couldn’t help the team erase a 1-0 deficit against Morocco.

Playing for Portugal on September 5, 2024, Ronaldo became the first men’s player to score 900 career goals across international and club play in a 2-1 UEFA Nations League win over Croatia.

Ronaldo, whose height is between 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-2 according to most estimates, has set numerous individual and league records during his career.

Of his 901 total goals as of September 8, 2024, he has scored 132 during official international competition—the most ever by any player, according to ESPN . He is also the only player ever to score goals at five different World Cups .

Here are some of Ronaldo’s other noteworthy stats with records in bold, according to the UEFA Champions League catalog :

• Men’s i nternational appearances: 214
• UEFA Champions League matches: 183
• UEFA Champions League goals: 140
• UEFA Champions League final wins: 5
• UEFA European Championship matches (with qualifiers): 74
• UEFA European Championship finals goals: 14
• FIFA World Cup matches: 22
• FIFA World Cup goals: 8
• Ballon d'Or wins: 5

Ronaldo is in a long-term relationship with Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez. The pair were first seen together publicly around November 2016 and became an official couple the following year. Although neither has confirmed their potential marriage, Ronaldo has referred to Rodriguez as his wife in interviews as recently as July 2024.

Ronaldo and Rodriguez have four children. In June 2017, the couple welcomed twins, a boy named Mateo and a girl named Eva Maria, via a surrogate. In November 2017, Rodriguez added to their family with the birth of another girl, Alana Martina, and the couple most recently had daughter Bella in April 2022.

Ronaldo’s eldest child, Cristiano Jr., was born to a former girlfriend in June 2010.

In March 2017, self-taught sculptor Emanuel Santos unveiled a bronze bust of Ronaldo at the airport in Ronaldo’s hometown of Madeira, Portugal. The statue was ridiculed for its sinister smile and apparent lack of likeness to its subject, though Santos didn’t seem to understand the uproar.

“I asked [Ronaldo] what he thought of the result and he said he liked it,” said Santos. “He only asked for some wrinkles that give him a certain expression to his face when he laughs to be changed. He said it made him look older and asked for it to be thinned out a bit to make it smoother and more jovial.”

In the wake of the negative publicity, the sports site Bleacher Report commissioned Santos to fashion another sculpture of Ronaldo. This one, unveiled in March 2018, earned praise for more closely resembling the soccer great, though its creator continued to defend his original work.

“I liked the result [of the first bust] and was really proud of it,” he told Bleacher Report. “And if I had to do it again, I would make everything exactly the same.”

In 2018, police in Las Vegas, Nevada, reopened a 9-year old investigation into claims that Ronaldo had raped a woman in his hotel room. The accuser also filed a civil lawsuit against the star athlete.

The following summer, the district attorney for Clark County, Nevada, announced that he had reviewed the case and would not be pursuing criminal charges against Ronaldo.

According to Celebrity Net Worth , Ronaldo’s total fortune is estimated at around $600 million as of July 2024.

In March 2024, Ronaldo topped Forbes ’ annual list of the world's highest-paid athletes for the fourth time, bringing in an estimated $260 million due mostly to his lucrative contract with Al-Nassr.

• Many people look at me and think they know me, but they don’t at all.
• My father always taught me that when you help other people, then God will give you double.
• Listen, I’m not going to change the world. You’re not going to change the world. But we can help, we can all help.
• When I was younger I couldn’t understand the meaning of true friendship. Now I have more experience and I know who loves me without wanting anything.
• I want to win all the trophies possible!
• I don’t like to do things by halves. It has to be done well.
• Either you like me or not. There is nothing in between.
• I look at the ball, I look at the net and I say to myself, “Take the kick, Ronaldo,” then I shoot.
• The goals I have scored are a consequence of the confidence I have.
• I keep to my word, my promise and dreams. I’ll never close any door to any club.

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Biography Cristiano Ronaldo

Short Biography Cristiano Ronaldo

His second name ‘Ronaldo’ was named after his father’s favourite American actor – Ronald Reagan.

From an early age, he loved playing football. His talent, enthusiasm and love for the game soon became apparent. By the age of ten, his talent was becoming well known in Portugal and he was signed for Nacional, a Portuguese side from Madeira. He later signed for Sporting Lisbon – one of the biggest clubs in Portugal.

His first international exposure came when representing Portugal under 17s at the UEFA championships. His performance caused him to be marked by leading European football managers. In 2003, he played against Manchester United when Sporting beat them 3-1 in a friendly.

At Manchester United, his career steadily progressed. In the 2006/07 season, Ronaldo was a key figure in Manchester’s successful league campaign. Ronaldo scored over 20 goals, as he won his first championship. In March 2007, his prowess helped him to gain a record-breaking £120,000 a week five-year contract. He also won PFA player of the year award.

The 2007-08 season was even better, with Cristiano Ronaldo being named the player of the tournament, as Manchester United won the coveted Champions League trophy. The most prestigious club competition in the world. Sir Alex Ferguson said of Ronaldo:

“We’ve had some great players at this club in my 20 years, but he’s up with the best.”

Real Madrid

However, despite the success, Ronaldo expressed a desire to leave the club, and move to Real Madrid. In 2009, Manchester United accepted an offer of £80 million from Real Madrid, making Ronaldo the most expensive player in the world.

His prolific goal-scoring record has lead to frequent comparison with Barcelona’s exceptional Lionel Messi. Sometimes, Ronaldo played up the rivalry, but at other times played it down.

“It’s part of my life now. People are bound to compare us. He 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

On 10 July 2018, Ronaldo was signed by Italian club Juventus for a €100 transfer fee (plus additional €12 million in other fees. In his first season, he helped Juventus to another Serie A title, and Ronaldo became the first player to win national titles in the big three leagues of England, Spain and Italy.

World Cup and international career.

Style of Play

There is widespread admiration for the athleticism, speed, talent and technical ability of Ronaldo. He has the capacity to dribble and beat players, and score a spectacular array of goals from overhead bicycle kicks to free-kicks and headers. Over the years, he has worked on both his physical strength and technical ability. He plays with tremendous confidence and often makes use of feints, dummies and step-overs, his skill and reputation make him a feared opponent. His self-confidence is a defining feature of his game and personality. Interviewed in 2018, he replied

“In my mind, I’m always the best. I don’t care what people think, what they say. In my mind, not just this year but always, I’m always the best.”

Cristiano Ronaldo BBC Sport ( 5 November 2015 ).

Ronaldo has a strong work ethic, and has been able to maintain a consistently high standard of play for several seasons:

“I am not a perfectionist, but I like to feel that things are done well. More important than that, I feel an endless need to learn, to improve, to evolve, not only to please the coach and the fans, but also to feel satisfied with myself. It is my conviction that there are no limits to learning, and that it can never stop, no matter what our age.”

– Cristiano Ronaldo.

He has sometimes been accused of having a petulant side. For example at the 2010 World Cup, he winked after getting David Beckham sent off.

Outside of football

Outside of football, he is often photographed with his model girlfriends and in his many sports car. Perhaps unfairly, he is characterised as the ultimate ‘playboy’ footballer, with his styled hair, and expensive clothes. In 2009, he was involved in a crash whilst driving his Ferrari. However, after reacting to newspaper claims he was involved in drinking in England, he replied,

“I don’t smoke or drink, and I’m not a big spender. I live in a rural part of Cheshire and my nearest neighbours are squirrels, birds and cows. Much of my time is spent at home with friends and family. I enjoy being peaceful and often sit by the candlelight to relax. Tranquillity is important to me.”

Ronaldo says he does not drink alcohol, which may be related to the early death of his father in 2005, aged 52 from alcohol-related liver damage.

He has also been involved in numerous philanthropy initiatives and has given parts of his salary to charitable relief efforts. He serves as a Save the Children Global artist ambassador.

Family life

He has three children via a surrogate mother and one daughter with a former girlfriend, Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez.

The legendary George Best said of Ronaldo:

“There have been a few players described as the new George Best over the years, but this is the first time it’s been a compliment to me.”

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan . “Biography of Cristiano Ronaldo”, Oxford, UK. www.biographyonline.net Last updated 18 March 2020.

Career Achievements

• Ronaldo is the only player to win the unique combination of the league title, domestic cup, domestic Supercup, Champions League, Club World Cup, League player of the year, Golden Shoe and Ballon d’Or at two clubs (Manchester United and Real Madrid)
• Most goals scored in a single calendar year for club and country: 63 goals (2012)
• Most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League: 128 goals (2020)
• Winner of five FIFA Ballon d’Or awards (given to world’s best player)
• Only player to win national titles in England, Spain and Italy.
• Five times winner of UEFA Champions League (4 with Real Madrid, 1 with Man Utd)
• Four times winner of FIFA club world cup.
• At the time (2009) The most expensive footballer in history £80 million – Man Utd to Real Madrid
• Only player in history to have scored 60 or more goals in a calendar year four times (consecutively from 2011 to 2014)
• The only player to score 50 goals or more in seven consecutive seasons (2011-17)
• Real Madrid all-time top goalscorer: 450 goals
• Most goals scored in a season in all competitions: 60 goals
• Most goals scored in a single La Liga season: 46 goals
• Most goals scored in a single UEFA Champions League season: 17 goals
• Most hat-tricks in a La Liga career (25)
• Most international goals scored in a calendar year: 32 (2017)
• First player to score in ten consecutive international tournaments (2004-19)
• Portugal’s most capped player of all time: 164 caps
• Portugal’s all-time top goalscorer: 99 goals

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13 Comments

Imagine saying pepsi(messi) is better than the goat (Ronaldo)

• February 10, 2022 5:23 PM

Christiano is the best player in the whole world

• January 07, 2022 11:34 AM
• By Adebisi adeyinka

cr7 is the best player in worldwide

• December 28, 2021 7:50 AM
• By akindejoye tayo

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Cristiano Ronaldo summary

Cristiano Ronaldo , (born Feb. 5, 1985, Funchal, Madeira, Port.), Portuguese football (soccer) player. While playing with Manchester United (2003–09), he developed into one of the game’s best forwards, noted for his free-reined attacking style. In 2008 he helped United win a Champions League title, and that year he also was named FIFA World Player of the Year. In 2009 he joined Real Madrid. He won a second world player of the year award (renamed the FIFA Ballon d’Or) after scoring 66 goals in 2013.

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Cristiano Ronaldo – Player analysis

- Quick feet - Lightning speed - Great technique - Very prolific in front of goal

- Low work-rate defending

Full name :  Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro   Date of birth : February 5 of 1985   Location of birth : Madeira, Portugal   Height : 1,86m   Weight : 84kg   Nationality : Portuguese   Current club : Real Madrid C.F.   Position : Forward   Nickname : CR7

Cristiano Ronaldo is not only one of the best football players of his generation, but has also done enough to deserve being rated as one of the best of all-time. After starting his professional football career in Sporting CP , it didn’t take him much time to get transferred to Manchester United in the summer of 2003 and quickly become one of the club’s idols. The Portuguese club received a 15-million euros offer and CR7 flew over to England shortly after.

While playing for the “Red Devils” during 2003 and 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a total of 84 goals in 196 appearances. He won the English Premier League in 3 different occasions and the UEFA Champions League in the 2007-08 season. He also won his first FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2008, following a remarkable campaign in England where netted 42 goals in 49 games, his best season ever since he had left Portugal .

In 2009 he shocked the football scene when he became the World’s most expensive football transfer of all-time, after getting signed by Real Madrid in a deal valued at 80 million pounds (96 million euros). Unlike what usually happens with many other football stars, Ronaldo quickly settled in to a new country, a new league and a new culture, as he started delivering goals and high level performances in a regular basis and with an incredibly consistency. In 6 seasons playing for Real Madrid , Ronaldo won 1 Spanish League, 2 Copa del Reys, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 1 UEFA Champions League. During that time, he also scored 252 goals in 246 games and already established himself as one of the club’s greatest legends.

Cristiano Ronaldo in Real Madrid

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Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (born February 5, 1985) is the quintessential footballer/soccer star. Possessing strength, pace, skill, and professionalism in abundance, Ronaldo’s many attributes leave him well-equipped for the modern game.

In an age where players have never been fitter or stronger, Ronaldo ensures that his outrageous natural talent is complemented by a bulging physique that makes him a tough competitor and a threat to any defense.

In 2009, his US$131 million move from Manchester United to Real Madrid made him the most expensive player in the world (since surpassed by Gareth Bale). And at the Bernabeu, he has thrilled the masses with high-caliber performances and an unreal number of goals.

Fast Facts: Cristano Ronaldo

• Nationality: Portuguese
• Date and Place of Birth: February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Portugal
• Position: Winger/Striker
• Current Club: Real Madrid (La Liga)
• Previous Clubs: Sporting Lisbon (2001-2003), Manchester United (2003-2009)
• International Career: 2003 to present

Early Career

Sporting Lisbon signed a 10-year-old Ronaldo after a three-day trial and he ultimately became the first player to turn out for the club with the Under-16, Under-17, Under-18, B-team, and first team in a single season.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson swooped to sign him as an 18-year-old after a devastating performance in a friendly against his side in 2003.

Rise to Prominence

Ferguson eased Ronaldo in gently, but from his early cameo performances, it was obvious the Scot had signed a player of immense natural ability.

Wearing the famous number seven shirt previously assigned to the likes of George Best and Eric Cantona, Ronaldo’s first season garnered 10 goals.

By the end of the 2006-07 season, the Portuguese star had registered 23 goals in 53 appearances for United and played a major role in the club winning their first title for four seasons.

The World's Best

The following campaign was to prove his best in a Red Devils shirt. Ronaldo scored a stunning total of 42 goals in 49 games as United won the Premier League and Champions League . He dovetailed beautifully with Wayne Rooney, while Carlos Tevez helped make the team’s attack one of the most prolific in the world game that season.

But rumors already started circulating about a move to Real Madrid. Manchester United stood firm that summer, retaining Ronaldo for one last season and at the turn of the year he won the FIFA World Player of the Year award for the first time.

Twenty-six goals in all competition helped United to another Premier League title and an appearance in the Champions League final where the English club was beaten 2-0 by Barcelona.

But it was no secret that Ronaldo was looking for pastures new and on June 26, 2009, Real Madrid confirmed that he would be joining them in a world record deal.

The Latest Galáctico

Florentino Perez was the man who brought Ronaldo to the Bernabeu as he begun a second spell as president. His Galácticos policy is world famous, and Ronaldo certainly fitted the mold, following in the footsteps of Luis Figo, David Beckham, and Zinedine Zidane.

Ronaldo was presented to 80,000 fans at the Bernabeu, as club legend Alfredo Di Stefano handed him the famous number nine shirt.

A devastating haul of 33 goals in 35 appearances—despite missing a month and a half through injury—rendered his first season in Spain a huge personal success, although no trophies were forthcoming as Barcelona continued their domestic dominance and Real Madrid again bowed out in the Champions League second round.

Under fellow countryman Jose Mourinho , Ronaldo helped Real Madrid to the Copa del Rey in the 2010/11 season, scoring the winning goal against Barcelona in the final.

He also beat the all-time record for goals in a single season in La Liga, turning on the afterburners (11 in the final four games) in the final weeks to take his tally to 40 for the season.

Another Personal Best

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi would exceed that tally the following season, but 2011/12 was also to be Ronaldo’s best to date. He netted 46 in the league and a sublime 63 in all competition as Real Madrid reclaimed the Liga title from Barcelona.

His goal against Barca in a 2-1 Liga win at Camp Nou all but ensured Real Madrid’s first title since 2008. Indeed, 2011/12 was the season Ronaldo started to match his performance in El Clasico with those against the league’s lesser lights.

Ronaldo has surpassed the 50-goal mark for Real Madrid in each of the seasons since and in the 2013/14 campaign he netted a record 17 in 11 Champions League matches as the club finally achieved La Decima —their 10th European Cup.

Another stunning season, of course, saw Ronaldo retain the FIFA Ballon d'Or which he has also won the previous year.

International Level

Ronaldo was first called up to the senior Portugal squad in August 2003, and made the final cut for Euro 2004, where he scored two goals. But on home turf, Portugal lost to Greece in the final.

Seven goals helped his country qualify for the 2006 World Cup, but at the big event in Germany, he could only muster a penalty against Iran as Portugal lost to France in the semi-finals.

Ronaldo again flourished in qualifying for Euro 2008, but was disappointing when the big event came around as Portugal went out in the quarter-finals.

Despite a scintillating first season in a Real Madrid shirt, Ronaldo again looked bereft at his next major tournament—the 2010 World Cup in South Africa . He netted in the 7-0 rout of North Korea, but like many of the tournament’s other major stars, failed to deliver and did little as Portugal bowed out to eventual winners Spain in the second round.

Ronaldo's three goals helped Portugal to the semi-finals of Euro 2012, after he had made a slow start to the tournament. The 2014 World Cup was a deep disappointment, though, as a knee tendonitis problem undermined his displays. He scored just once as Portugal bowed out in the group stage amid speculation that he did not believe in his teammates.

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Cristiano Ronaldo

• Born February 5 , 1985 · Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
• Birth name Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
• The Sultan Of The Stepover
• Pride of Portugal
• Height 6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
• Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on February 5, 1985, in Madeira, Portugal to Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Diniz Aveiro. Cristiano has an elder brother, Hugo and two elder sisters, Elma and Liliana Cátia. His name was inspired by the former US-president, Ronald Reagan, whom his father was influenced by. The island of Madeira was also the place where Cristiano first learned to master his skills as a footballer. He spent his early years playing for his local team, Nacional, and by the time he turned 12 years old, he already made his name for himself as one of Madeira's top footballers . It wasn't long before he started to catch the attention of other big Portuguese clubs. Among Sporting was Benfica, a team Cristiano and his father followed as a young boy. However he eventually chose to play for Sporting which was a team his mother loved and followed as she was growing up, to play with the likes of Figo was the dream for her son. He was then spotted by former Liverpool manager, Gerard Houllier at the age of sixteen but Liverpool had no intentions to sign him at that time because they thought he was too young and he needed more time to develop his skills. However, in the summer of 2003, when Sporting played against Manchester United and defeated them, Cristiano caught the attention of Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. Ronaldo became Manchester United's first-ever Portuguese player. Initially, he requested for the number 28 as his jersey number because he didn't feel that he could live up to the pressure of previous players such as George Best and David Beckham who wore the number 7 jersey. The year 2006 to 2008 proved to be a rather controversial year for the star. In the 2006 World Cup, Cristiano faced accusations regarding his sportsmanship. In a quarter-final match against England, he was heavily criticized for sending of his club team mate, Wayne Rooney who was playing for the England team. It wasn't too long until fans started accepting Cristiano again. In 2007, he won PFA Young Player of the Year, PFA Player of the Year, PFA Fans' Player of the Year, Portuguese Footballer of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year and Manchester United's Players' Player of the Year. The year 2008 also saw him taking back the PFA Player Of The Year Award for the second time running. That same year, Ronaldo also had to deal with controversies regarding his club transfer to Spanish giants, Real Madrid. He eventually chose to stay with Manchester United and stressed to the public that he had no intentions of leaving the club. Cristiano now lives with his cousin, Nuno and his brother in law Ze. When he is not on the field, he is a very family oriented person. Growing up, when he was about to choose football as his career, he said that it was very difficult for him as that would mean lesser time with his family, especially his mother, whom he says play a major role in his life. During his free time, Cristiano enjoys cooking. He mentioned in an interview that he usually cooks before he leaves for his soccer practice. Because he is constantly training, Cristiano rarely has time to watch TV. If he does get the time to watch, he says he loves watching one of the local Portuguese game show which is mostly about trivia questions. Cristiano is an avid learner and he takes interest in learning new things everyday. Among Cristiano's biggest pet peeves are smoking, people who don't make an effort and dishonesty. When the tsunami hit South East Asia, Cristiano flew to Indonesia to help those in need. He auctioned off a few stuff to help raise funds for charity. He hopes to get involved in more charity projects in the future because he believes his star status will help him reach out to others for help. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Ezequiel De Castilla
• Children Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. Alana Martina dos Santos Aveiro Mateo Ronaldo Eva Maria Dos Santos Bella Esmeralda dos Santos Aveiro
• After playing against Manchester United in a pre-season friendly the Manchester United players urged the manager to sign Cristiano on the the plane back to Manchester.
• Was signed by Manchester United as a long term replacement for David Beckham .
• Became the most expensive teenager in Britain in 2003.
• Scored Manchester United Football Club's 1,000th league goal against Middlesbrough Football Club.
• Flew to Indonesia to visit the areas affected by the tsunami and raised over 1 billion rupiah by auctioning off his personal sports gear.
• I would be very proud if, one day, I'm held in the same esteem as George Best or Beckham. It's what I'm working hard towards.
• Lots of young players have triumphed at United, so why can't it happen to me? I'm not worried I'm young - it's an incentive to do the best I can.
• The No 7 shirt is an honor and a responsibility. I hope it brings me a lot of luck.
• There is no harm in dreaming of becoming the world's best player. It is all about trying to be the best. I will keep working hard to achieve it but it is within my capabilities.
• I've never tried to hide the fact that it is my intention to be the best

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Cristiano Ronaldo: Twenty years on from Portugal star's Manchester United debut

• Published 16 August 2023

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Watch Cristiano Ronaldo's original debut for Manchester United in 2003

Cristiano Ronaldo's first forward surge as a Premier League player was not a memorable one.

The 18-year-old winger had been introduced for Nicky Butt as a 61st-minute substitute in Manchester United's season opener against Bolton at Old Trafford on 16 August 2003.

About 60 seconds later, Ronaldo took the ball close to the touchline just inside his own half, near the dugouts, and stepped inside Bolton defender Nicky Hunt, who was only 19 himself and making his top-flight debut.

Ronaldo had three touches with his right foot before Hunt slid in and took the ball away from the young Portuguese.

"When he came on, my first thought wasn't 'I am in absolute trouble, he is going to skin me alive'," recalled Hunt in a chat with BBC Sport.

"I had just done 70 minutes and thought I had done OK. We were only 1-0 down and to me it was just another player.

"It was my job to go and tackle him. That is what I did. I smashed him - twice. Then he ran rings round me."

'One of the most exciting young players I have seen'

Nicky Hunt (left) spent several seasons in the Premier League with Bolton

It is two decades now since that game - and no-one who was there will ever forget Ronaldo's cameo.

It came four days after United signed him from Sporting Lisbon for £12.2m, and nine days after Ronaldo had turned in a magical performance for the Portuguese club in a pre-season friendly against Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who were on their way back from an arduous four-match tour of the United States.

Defender John O'Shea has rejected Rio Ferdinand's claim he needed an "oxygen mask" at half-time in Lisbon such was the difficulty he was having in subduing Ronaldo.

But the Irishman was impressed, stating that before kick-off "he stared me in the face [to say] I'm ready".

It was an attitude that backed up unusually bullish quotes from Ferguson in the official statement confirming Ronaldo's arrival.

"He is an extremely talented footballer, a two-footed attacker who can play anywhere up front: right, left or through the middle. He is one of the most exciting young players I've ever seen," the United boss said.

Cristiano Ronaldo replaced Nicky Butt for his Manchester United debut in August 2003

As United had also handed over the iconic number seven shirt left free after David Beckham's departure for Real Madrid, they could not be accused of underplaying their hand.

"We were trying to prepare for our first game and there was all the hype about this 18-year-old Diego Maradona-esque player," said Hunt.

"We were trying to ignore it but it just became bigger and bigger. It was in all the papers, on all the TV programmes and the internet. It was impossible to ignore.

"Anybody in the professional game would be lying if they were playing against someone with a massive pedigree like that and said they didn't look over as he came out for the warm-up.

"When I saw him, he was stick thin. I was a really skinny player. He was scrawny. Black hair with blonde highlights, full of acne. You are thinking 'he is really young, he can't be as good as they are all making out'. But he was."

'We're not leaving without him'

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Manchester United in the same summer as Brazilian midfielder Kleberson

Few of United's players were enthusiastic about the prospect of the Lisbon trip.

After a gruelling tour, most wanted to get home - as shown by their 3-1 defeat at the end of a week that included beating Juventus and Barcelona in front of combined audiences of almost 150,000 in New Jersey and Philadelphia.

But without it, the club might have missed out on the man Ferguson said in his most recent autobiography was "the most gifted player I managed".

United had a coaching agreement with Sporting, were aware of Ronaldo and had already come to a loose deal for the teenager to remain in Portugal for two more years before he moved to England.

However, neither Ronaldo, nor his agent Jorge Mendes, had been informed of this. Some of the world's biggest clubs were circling.

At half-time of the friendly, Ferguson told his trusted kitman Albert Morgan to find chief executive Peter Kenyon and bring him down to the dressing room area.

When Kenyon arrived, the message was blunt: "We are not leaving this ground until we have that boy signed."

United's players now knew all about Ronaldo's talent but as they sat waiting to leave for home, they had no idea of the discussions taking place in the bowels of the stadium.

Ferguson's pitch to the player navigated the tricky balance of telling him he was brilliant and perfect for United and cautioning him it would be too much to start every game immediately.

It was the start of an enduring relationship which means Ronaldo still refers to the 81-year-old as his "father in football", despite his ill-fated return to Old Trafford which came to a disappointing and controversial end in December.

'He was unmarkable at times'

Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench in his first two Manchester United games - against Bolton and Wolves

Ferguson stuck to his word following Ronaldo's arrival. He put him on the bench - for two games.

In fairness, it would be three years before United's coaching staff turned him into a world-beater, ensuring those famed stepovers turned into consistent game-changing contributions.

Hunt was the first Premier League full-back tasked with trying to deal with Ronaldo's quick feet - and would not be the last to struggle.

"I was fortunate in the sense I had just had a full pre-season training with Jay-Jay Okocha," said Hunt.

"He was also known for skills and would do a couple of stepovers, so I knew how it worked.

"But Ronaldo could do more, six or seven on the bounce it felt like. And he could go with both feet, which was even more of a challenge. He could also cross with both feet and shoot with both feet.

"I was in a catch-22 situation. My main focus was to watch the ball and keep him away from the goal. For the first five minutes I did that, for the last 17 he was all over the place. He was unmarkable at times.

"He was doing all these stepovers and I was thinking 'how can one person do that?' - I thought he was going left and he would go right. I thought he was going down the line and he would check back.

"Growing up through school, there were two or three of us who were the best. When I signed professional forms, it was surreal training with a Bolton squad that had World Cup winners in it.

"But when you step on to a pitch with Manchester United players, it was the next level up.

"The more I played that first season, the more I understood what levels there were. I was intermediate, then there was top and above that, exceptional."

'We all knew what happened'

Sir Alex Ferguson had a significant influence on Cristiano Ronaldo's career

It is clear Ronaldo was in the exceptional category. But there were flaws that needed ironing out.

"In his early days, I accept, he showboated a lot," said Ferguson, who also described the young Ronaldo as "a wee show-off desperate to convince everyone how good he was".

The Scot recalled team-mates ridiculing the Portuguese at United's Carrington training ground when he went down screaming in apparent agony.

It was part of the transition that saw Ronaldo go from scoring six goals in that first season, to 42 in 2007-08 when he helped United win the Premier League and Champions League and won the Ballon d'Or for the first time.

Given how the future was to unfold, Hunt accepts he made a mistake in not securing Ronaldo's shirt to mark his own Premier League debut. Instead he went for England centre-half Ferdinand.

"A marvellous debut" was how Ferguson assessed Ronaldo's first United appearance at the time.

More recently, he described it as "bloody fantastic" and a display that created a problem of not being able to hold a player of such talent back.

After Ronaldo's introduction, United had added three more goals (through Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy) to win 4-0 - and the mood in the Bolton dressing room was reflective.

"It was surreal for me," said Hunt. "The whole day was. It was my debut in front of so many people. I was gutted we had lost.

"But Sam [Allardyce, Bolton's manager] didn't go mad after the game. He said we were in the game for 75 minutes.

"As players, we just sat and looked at each other. [Assistant manager] Phil Brown shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

"We all knew what had happened in those last 15 minutes. We couldn't do anything about it."

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Club Career

International career, awards and achievements, personal life.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on 5 February 1985 in Madeira, Portugal. He plays as a forward for the Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team. Commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo or CR7, he is regarded as one of the best players of this generation.

He has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or five times, two Ballon D'or's behind by his arch-rival Lionel Messi . Known for his pace and physicality, Ronaldo plays on the left wing but can play as a striker as well. The Portuguese international has scored 827 goals in 1153 appearances for club and country till date making him arguably one of the greatest footballers of all time.

He was born in the Funchal district of Sao Pedro. He grew up in a small house with his parents, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Dinis Aveiro, as well as his three siblings.

At the age of seven, Ronaldo showed a great passion for soccer and played for a local team, Andorinha, where his father worked as a kit man. At the age of just eight years old, Ronaldo's talent was noticed by a former player and scout for Sporting Lisbon , a professional soccer team in Portugal. He was offered a trial with the club and soon after, was accepted into their youth academy.

He was diagnosed with racing heart condition which could have halted his footballing career when he was 15. After a successful surgery, he was able to play again and was promoted to the senior team at the age of 16. He became the first player to play for the U16, U17, U18, the B team and first team of the club in one season.

Ronaldo made his debut for Sporting CP in the Primeira Liga against Moreirense on 7 October 2002. He scored a brace with Sporting winning 3-0. He made 25 appearances and scored five goals for the club in the 2002-03 season.

In a friendly match between Sporting and Manchester United in August 2003, Ronaldo contributed greatly to help the Portuguese club defeat United 3-1. He impressed manager Sir Alex Ferguson and other United players with his pace and dribbling skills.

He spent just one season with the club before being signed by Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, in 2003 for a transfer fee of £12.24 million. He made his debut on 16th August 2003 against Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League, when he came on as a substitute for Nicky Butt. He received a standing ovation as United won 4-0. On November 1 2003, Cristiano scored his first goal for the club with a free kick in a 3-0 win against Portsmouth .

Ronaldo spent six seasons with Manchester United, where he became a key player and won numerous titles, including three Premier League titles, one FA Cup , one UEFA Champions League title, and one FIFA Club World Cup . He also won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008, while still playing for Manchester United. He has scored 118 goals from 292 appearances for Manchester United.

Ronaldo joined Spanish giants Real Madrid in the 2009/10 season for a then-world-record transfer fee of £80 million. He was given the number 9 jersey and made his La Liga debut on 29 August 2009, against Deportivo La Coruna. Madrid won 3–2 and Ronaldo converted a penalty. He kept up his form and scored in four consecutive matches.

In his nine seasons with the club, he became their all-time top scorer with 451 goals in just 438 appearances. During his time at Real Madrid, he won four UEFA Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, and two Copa del Rey titles. He also won four more Ballon d'Or awards, bringing his total to five.

In 2018, Ronaldo was signed by Juventus , one of the biggest clubs in Italy, for a transfer fee of €100 million. Ronaldo cited his need for a new challenge as his rationale for departing Madrid, but later attributed the transfer to the lack of support he felt was shown by club president Florentino Pérez.

On 18 August, Ronaldo made his debut in a 3–2 away win against Chievo Verona . On 16 September, Ronaldo scored his first two goals for Juventus in his fourth appearance in a 2–1 home win over Sassuolo in Serie A ; his second was the 400th league goal of his career.

During his three years at Juventus, he won consecutive Serie A titles in 2018-19 and 2019-20 as well as the Coppa Italia in 2020-21 and two Supercoppa Italiana in 2018 and 2020. He scored 101 goals in 134 appearances in all competitions.

On August 27th 2021, Ronaldo made a shock return to Manchester United at the age of 36. He was signed for an initial £12.85 million, with a two-year contract plus an optional year. Ronaldo was given the number 7 shirt after Edinson Cavani agreed to switch to number 21. The first 24 hours of Ronaldo's shirt sales was reported to have broken the all-time record following a transfer, overtaking Messi after his move to Paris Saint-Germain.

On 11 September, Ronaldo made his second debut at Old Trafford, scoring the opening two goals in a 4–1 league victory against Newcastle United . While his first few months at United were fruitful, his form started to dip in the second half of the season and he has a fractured relationship with interim manager Ralf Ragnick. Despite this, he finished as their top scorer, finding the net 24 times in 38 appearances.

In his second season under new manager Erik ten Hag, he found himself at the center of attention under media spotlight. Ronaldo publicly showed his dissatisfaction with the direction of United on and off the field. After failing to secure a transfer away from the club, he lost his starting spot in the team to the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial . With tensions mounting over being benched and falling out with Ten Hag, his contract was terminated on November 22, 2022 by mutual agreement. He only scored three goals in 16 appearances in the 2022-23 season.

On 30 December 2022, Saudi club Al-Nassr reached an agreement for Ronaldo to join the club effective 1 January 2023, signing a contract until 2025. He received the highest salary in history, worth to be around €200 million per year. He made his debut for Al Nassr on 22 January, as club captain, playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–0 win over Al-Ettifaq, and scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw against Al-Fateh by converting a last-minute penalty.

Cristiano Ronaldo has also had a very successful international career with the Portuguese national team. He made his debut for the team in 2003, and has since gone on to become the team's all-time top scorer with over 100 goals.

Ronaldo has played in multiple international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, and the UEFA Nations League. He helped Portugal reach the final of the 2004 European Championship, where they lost to Greece, and the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup.

In 2016, Ronaldo played a key role in Portugal's triumph at the UEFA European Championship, scoring three goals in the tournament, including one in the final. He also led Portugal to victory in the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019, scoring a hat-trick in the semi-final against Switzerland.

He currently has 118 goals for Portugal in 196 appearances.

All-time top scorer in UEFA Champions League history with 134 goals.

All-time top scorer for Real Madrid with 451 goals in just 438 appearances.

Most hat-tricks in La Liga history with 34.

All-time top scorer for the Portuguese national team with over 100 goals.

Most goals in a single UEFA Champions League season (17 goals in 2013-14 season)

Fastest player to reach 100 goals in UEFA Champions League history.

Most goals scored in UEFA European Championship history (14 goals)

First player to score in 11 consecutive UEFA Champions League matches.

Most goals scored in a single UEFA European Championship tournament (joint record with Michel Platini, 9 goals in 2016).

Ronaldo was born in Madeira, Portugal, and comes from a large family. He has three siblings and is very close with his mother, Dolores Aveiro. Ronaldo is known for his philanthropy and has been involved in numerous charitable causes throughout his career. He has donated millions of dollars to various organizations, including UNICEF and Save the Children. He also has a passion for fashion and has launched his own clothing line. He also enjoys playing poker and has been known to participate in high-stakes games.

Ronaldo is known for his strict diet and fitness regimen, which he credits for his success on the field. He also promotes healthy living through his various social media platforms.

As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $500 million, making him one of the richest athletes in the world.

Cristiano Ronaldo comes from a large family. His parents are Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Dinis Aveiro. Ronaldo's father passed away in 2005 due to liver failure. He has two older sisters, Elma and Katia, and one older brother, Hugo.

Ronaldo is also a father of five children. He has a son named Cristiano Jr., who was born in June 2010. The identity of Cristiano Jr.'s mother has not been publicly disclosed. In addition, Ronaldo has three other children with his partner, Georgina Rodriguez: a daughter named Alana Martina, who was born in November 2017, and twins Eva and Mateo, who were born via surrogate in June 2017. The couple expected their second pair of twins in 2022. The male twin died during childbirth while the female twin survived.

Cristiano Ronaldo is in a relationship with Georgina Rodriguez, a Spanish model and former Gucci sales assistant. The couple has been together since 2016 and currently live together with their children in Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo has several luxurious homes located in different parts of the world. The following are the most notable ones:

Turin, Italy: The house is located in the hills of the Po river valley and features a stunning view of the city.

Funchal, Portugal: The house is located on a hill and offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Lisbon, Portugal: The apartment is located in the Chiado district and is said to be worth around €7.2 million.

New York City, USA: Ronaldo reportedly purchased a luxurious apartment in Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York City in 2015. The apartment features stunning views of Central Park and the city skyline.

Marbella, Spain: Ronaldo also owns a luxurious villa in Marbella, Spain. The house features seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a gym, a cinema room, and a large swimming pool.

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Cristiano Ronaldo

2009 - 2018.

• Full name Cristiano Ronaldo Dos Santos Aveiro
• Place of birth Funchal (Portugal)
• Date of birth 05/02/1985

Real Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer

Position: Forward Competitive appearances: 438 Goals: 451 International caps with Portugal: 154 Cristiano Ronaldo is a part of Real Madrid's legacy and will forever be remember as one of the great icons throughout the club's history. He was unveiled at the Santiago Bernabéu on 6 July 2009, where he was joined by Eusebio and Alfredo Di Stéfano, and since that day, the goals just kept coming. He netted 451 times in 438 competitive appearances with Real Madrid (averaging over a goal a game). He registered in all of the competitions he featured in: 312 in LaLiga, 105 in the Champions League, 22 in the Copa del Rey, six in the Club World Cup, four in the Spanish Super Cup and two in the UEFA Super Cup. Nobody throughout the club's history has scored as many goals as the Portuguese attacker, who boasts an impressive trophy haul as a Real Madrid player: four Champions League crowns, three Club World Cups and UEFA Super Cups apiece, two LaLiga titles, a pair of Copas del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups. This list of honours is completed with four Ballons d'Or, three Golden Shoe awards, two The Best awards, whilst he was named UEFA Best Player in Europe three times and landed the Pichichi crown on three occasions. A spell full of records During the course of his nine seasons as a Real Madrid player, Ronaldo secured a number of impressive records: the club's all-time leading goalscorer, the leading marksmen in European Cup history (he scored 105 goals for Real Madrid in the Champions League); the all-time leading madridista goalscorer in LaLiga (312); highest number of games in which a player has scored three or more times in LaLiga history (34); and the most goals to have been scored by a Real Madrid player in a single season (61). During his time at the club, he also clinched the record for the most goals scored in a Champions League campaign (17) and ended the competition as the leading goalscorer on six occasions. Club president Florentino Pérez labelled him as "the heir to Alfredo Di Stéfano”, and just like Don Alfredo, he has left an indelible mark on the history of the best club in the world.

With Real Madrid

• 4 European Cups
• 3 Club World Cups
• 3 UEFA Super Cups
• 2 LaLiga titles
• 2 Copas del Rey
• 2 Spanish Super Cups

With Portugal

• 1 European Championship with Portugal

Fotos y vídeos

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Cristiano Ronaldo exhausted all superlatives during his first spell with Manchester United, while he matured from an inexperienced, young winger in 2003 into officially the best footballer on the planet in 2009.

On the day he departed for Real Madrid in a deal worth £80m - making him the world's most expensive player - his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson said, "Cristiano has been a marvellous player for Manchester United. His contribution has been a major factor in the club’s success in that time and his talent, his ability to entertain and his infectious personality have enthralled fans the world over." The story goes that Sir Alex was persuaded to buy Ronaldo - largely unknown when he signed as an 18-year-old for £12.24m in 2003 - by his players on the plane home from a pre-season friendly against Sporting. In truth, the boss had long been aware of his ability. The urgency stemmed from other clubs’ increasing interest. This was a target Sir Alex simply could miss out on. Ronaldo wasted little time in showing off his sublime skills with a stunning 30-minute debut against Bolton at OT in August 2003. There was a buzz of excitement as soon as he stepped off the bench and, after 39 appearances and eight goals that season – including the opener in the 3-0 FA Cup final win over Millwall – he was named Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year. His second term didn’t quite live up to his first, but late season form saw him end 2004/05 with nine goals in 50 appearances. In 2005/06 Ronny again reserved his best form for the latter stages, but the inconsistencies of a developing young player were being ironed out. He departed, full of hope and with great expectations, for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany - what turned out to be a truly defining moment in his career. In the quarter finals, Portugal met England and, after Wayne Rooney’s sending off, Ronaldo became the pantomime villain for the English press. Some doubted he would return to Manchester. But Sir Alex assured him any ill-feeling would blow over. It’d happened with Eric Cantona and David Beckham. Ronaldo met the inevitable boos with the best football of his life. United’s title success in 2006/2007 was a team effort, but one man took the lead role in every major plotline. It began with the barnstorming 5-1 win over Fulham – Ronaldo and Rooney ran the show and publicly banished claims they were at odds. Dazzling wing-play was backed with regular assists and crucial goals. His form that season brought a glut of individual accolades and, despite interest from other clubs - notably Real Madrid - he extended his contract until 2012. Ronaldo improved further in 2007/08, netting a staggering 42 goals in all competitions. In May 2008 he fired United to domestic and European glory; scoring a decisive penalty on the final day of the league campaign and a powerful header in the Champions League final in Moscow. His staggering individual performances gleaned a clean sweep of club and domestic individual honours, with global gongs soon to follow. At Euro 2008, Ronaldo’s future was again the subject of claim and counter-claim. Happily, in the end, he pledged his allegiance to United, although ankle surgery delayed his start to the 2008/09 campaign. He made his return as a substitute against Villarreal in the Champions League and was given a rousing home reception. Two months later, his 100th Reds goal arrived against Stoke City at OT on 15 November 2008. Ronaldo’s magical 2008 was rounded off with another string of individual honours. In October he was named FIFPro Player of the Year, and in December became the first United player since George Best in 1968 to be awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy. To cap it off, in January 2009, he became the first Red to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award. "This is the climax of a fantastic era," he said. "I'm lucky to be part of United's history. It's one of the most important moments of my life, I hope to be back in this position again." While Ronaldo did not dominate on the field in 2008/09 to the same degree as he did in 2007/08, he still played a significant role as the Reds achieved a hat-trick of league titles and reached a second successive European Cup final. For example, Cristiano scored in all three knock-out rounds of the Champions League, including the club's Goal of the Season to defeat Porto in the quarter-final second leg in his native Portugal and a double in the semi-final second leg against Arsenal. In his final appearance at Old Trafford, Ronaldo received his third championship medal after the Reds sealed the title with a point against Arsenal. There was no indication then that Cristiano was contemplating an exit - but that all changed on 11 June 2009 when United announced he had "expressed his desire to leave" and that Real Madrid's world record £80m offer had been accepted. Less than three weeks later, the transfer was concluded. In the next 12 seasons - nine with Real Madrid and then three with Juventus - Ronaldo continued to evolve as a player and add more trophies to his glittering CV, as well as individual honours including a further four Ballon d'Or awards, giving him five in total. By the summer of 2021, he had won over 30 major trophies during his career, including five UEFA Champions Leagues, four FIFA Club World Cups, and seven league championships after becoming the first player to win the title in England, Spain and Italy. He also experienced international glory by captaining Portugal to victory in the final of Euro 2016. On 27 August 2021, United stunned the football world, and delighted the club's global fan base, by announcing a transfer deal had been struck with Juventus for Ronaldo to rejoin the Reds. Four days later, his transfer was finalised. The 36-year-old was home. In his first season back at the club, Cristiano scored 24 goals - 18 in the Premier League, six in the Champions League - as he made 38 appearances across all competitions. But Ronaldo's second stint at Old Trafford ended after a few months of the following campaign. On 22 November 2022, the club announced he was "to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement".

12 Aug 2003

16 Aug 2003

v Bolton (H) League

22 Nov 2022

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Cristiano Ronaldo

• HT/WT 6' 2", 183 lbs
• Birthdate 2/5/1985 (39)
• Nationality Portugal

Career History

Latest videos, erik ten hag responds to cristiano ronaldo's criticism.

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Cristiano Ronaldo

2024 the world's highest-paid athletes earnings.

• In February 2021, Ronaldo became the first person in the world to reach 500 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. As of March 2024, he had 903 million.
• In March 2021, he passed Brazilian legend Pele's goal tally; a hat trick against Serie A foe Cagliari pushed him up to 770 goals in all competitions.
• He switched teams in August 2021, moving from Juventus to Manchester United, where he previously played from 2003 to 2009. He then jumped to Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr in December 2022.
• Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, in 2020 became the first active team-sport athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings.
• In addition to a lifetime deal with Nike, Ronaldo makes money off the pitch with his CR7-branded clothing, accessories, hotels and gyms.

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