Cristiano Ronaldo

About Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo (born February 5, 1985, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal) is a Portuguese football (soccer) forward who is one of the greatest players of his generation. Ronaldo is the winner of five Ballon d’Or awards (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017), and in 2024 he became the first men’s player to score 900 career goals in official matches.

Early life and career

Ronaldo’s father, José Dinis Aveiro, was the equipment manager for the local club Andorinha. (The name Ronaldo was added to Cristiano’s name in honor of his father’s favorite movie actor, Ronald Reagan, who was U.S. president at the time of Cristiano’s birth.) At age 15 Ronaldo was diagnosed with a heart condition that necessitated surgery, but he was sidelined only briefly and made a full recovery. He first played for Clube Desportivo Nacional of Madeira and then transferred to Sporting Clube de Portugal (known as Sporting Lisbon), where he played for that club’s various youth teams before making his debut on Sporting’s first team in 2002.

A tall player at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters), Ronaldo was a formidable athlete on the pitch. Originally a right-winger, he developed into a forward with a free-reined attacking style. He was able to mesmerize opponents with a sleight of foot that made sufficient space for openings in opposing defenses.

Club play

After a successful season with Sporting that brought the young player to the attention of Europe’s biggest football clubs, Ronaldo signed with Manchester United in 2003. He was an instant sensation and soon came to be regarded as one of the best forwards in the game. His finest season with United came in 2007–08, when he scored 42 League and Cup goals and earned the Golden Shoe award as Europe’s leading scorer, with 31 League goals. After helping United to a Champions League title in May 2008, Ronaldo captured FIFA World Player of the Year honors for his stellar 2007–08 season.

Soon thereafter Ronaldo was sold to Real Madrid for a then record £80 million transfer fee. His scoring prowess continued with his new team, and he netted 40 goals in La Liga during the 2010–11 season. In 2011–12 Ronaldo helped Madrid capture a La Liga championship and scored a personal-best 46 goals during the League season. In 2014 he scored 52 goals in 43 games and led Madrid to a Champions League title, earning another Ballon d’Or award.

In July 2018 he reached a four-year contract worth €112 million with Juventus. He later returned to Manchester United before signing with the Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in December 2022.

International career

Ronaldo made his first appearance for Portugal’s full national team in August 2003. He was a key player in Portugal’s fourth-place finish at the 2006 World Cup and became captain of the national team in 2008. In 2016 he helped Portugal win the European Championship, the country’s first major international tournament title.

At the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo became the first male player to score at five different World Cups. In 2024 he scored his 900th career goal, becoming the first men’s player to accomplish the feat.

Endorsements and legal issues

Ronaldo has been one of the highest-paid athletes in the world and signed a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike. He also launched his own “CR7” brand, which includes clothing and fragrances. In 2018 he agreed to pay a settlement to Spanish authorities in a tax-related case.