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| Full Name | Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro |
| DOB | 5 February 1985 |
| Age | 38 |
| Place of birth | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal |
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Current team | Al Nassr |
| Debut | September 29, 2002 |
| Agent | Ricardo Regufe |
| Salary | 6.2 crores GBP (2023) |
| Profession | Portuguese Professional Footballer |
| Jersey Number | 7 |
| Position | Forward |
| Eye color | Hazel Brown |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Hobby | Music, workout |
Who is Cristiano Ronaldo?
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional footballer. He has achieved many records and accolades throughout his career. He currently plays as a forward and captains both Al Nassr, a Saudi Professional League club, and the Portugal national team. He is considered one of the greatest players ever. Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards and four European Golden Shoes, which is the most by any European player. He has accumulated an impressive total of 32 trophies. It includes seven league titles, five UEFA Champions League titles, the UEFA European Championship, and the UEFA Nations League.
Ronaldo holds several notable records in football. In the UEFA Champions League, he has the most appearances (183), goals (140), and assists (42). He also holds the record for the most goals scored in the UEFA European Championship (14). He has the most international goals (123) and international appearances (200) for his country. Ronaldo stands out as one of the few players to have played in over 1,100 professional career matches. Moreover, he has scored more than 800 official senior career goals for both club and country, making him the highest-scoring player in history. Notably, he is the only player to have scored in five different FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Net Worth
According to Forbes, Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth is $500 million (approx) in 2023. He is one of the wealthiest athletes in history. There are others like Roger Federer, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Lionel Messi. Ronaldo has accumulated his wealth through his successful career. It was through his professional football and various endorsement deals. He currently plays for Manchester United and represents the Portugal national team. Throughout his footballing journey, Ronaldo has achieved remarkable success, winning many titles. He received prestigious awards. He has played for renowned clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. He has been among the highest-paid footballers globally. In 2022, he earned $136 million. This made him the world’s highest-paid athlete, as reported by Forbes.
Early Life
Cristiano Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal. He grew up in a nearby parish with his parents, Maria Dolores and José Dinis Aveiro, and his siblings. His father worked as a municipal gardener and part-time kit man, while his mother was a cook. Ronaldo has one older brother, Hugo, and two older sisters, Elma and Liliana Cátia. Ronaldo was named after the actor and former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, whom his father admired. His mother once considered having an abortion due to financial difficulties. His father’s alcoholism was also a reason. They already had many children, but she was unable to do so because abortions were illegal in Portugal at that time. Ronaldo grew up in a poor Catholic Christian family and shared a room with his siblings. During his childhood, Ronaldo played for local clubs Andorinha and Nacional. At the age of 12, he had a three-day trial with Sporting CP and was signed by the club for a fee. He moved from Madeira to Alcochete, near Lisbon, to join Sporting’s youth academy. At 14 years old, Ronaldo decided to focus entirely on football and stopped his formal education. He had some difficulties as a student and was even expelled from school after throwing a chair at a teacher who he felt disrespected him. When Ronaldo was 15, he was diagnosed with tachycardia, a condition that could have ended his football career. He underwent heart surgery, where a laser was used to cauterize multiple cardiac pathways into one, which helped to regulate his resting heart rate. Shortly after the surgery, he was discharged from the hospital and resumed training a few days later.
Personal Life
While Ronaldo’s achievements in football are widely known and discussed, he has made significant efforts to keep his personal life private and away from public attention. However, it has been challenging for him and his team to completely shield his private life from the public, as people have a great interest in knowing about it. Over the course of his successful career spanning more than 20 years, Ronaldo has been in relationships with various women, including supermodels and celebrities. In 2017, he established a committed relationship with his current girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez.
Cristiano Ronaldo has never been married, despite being a father to five children. His first child was born on 17 June 2010. He has full custody, but he has not disclosed his mother’s identity. In 2017, he became a father to twins through surrogacy. The details about their birth are not available. His first child with Georgina Rodriguez was born on 12 November 2017. They welcomed another set of twins in 2022, although one of the twins reportedly passed away during childbirth. Ronaldo and Rodriguez have been in a relationship since 2017 and have two children together. They are currently residing in Saudi Arabia, where Ronaldo plays for Al Nassr. Ronaldo and Rodriguez met at a Gucci store in Madrid. Rodriguez was working there as a shop assistant, according to the Spanish football newspaper AS. The couple has been together since then. In a TV interview with Piers Morgan in 2022, Ronaldo expressed his desire to marry Rodriguez in the future. They often express their love for each other on social media. Rodriguez provides insights into their relationship through her Netflix series, “I am Georgina.” Before settling down with Rodriguez, Ronaldo had a well-known relationship with Russian supermodel Irina Shayk. They were together from 2010 until 2015. They first met on the set of an Armani Exchange advertisement and had a highly publicized relationship. The couple’s breakup in 2015 was described as difficult for Ronaldo’s family. Following his split from Shayk, Ronaldo was reportedly in a brief relationship with Desiree Cordero, a Spanish model and Miss Universe Spain 2014. However, the relationship ended after a few months amid rumors that Ronaldo suspected Cordero of seeking publicity rather than genuine affection. Jordana Jardel, a Brazilian model and the sister of Ronaldo’s former teammate Mario Jardel was Ronaldo’s first known serious girlfriend when he became a professional football player. They began dating in 2003 but broke up less than a year later. Cristiano Ronaldo was involved with Merche Romero from January 2005 to September 2006. Merche is a Portuguese model and TV presenter. Their relationship is believed to be his longest-lasting while he played for Manchester United. Although Ronaldo did not confirm or deny their relationship. They were often seen together at events and on holidays. On 20 September 2006, Merche announced the end of their relationship. She disclosed this during a Portuguese TV show. In 2002, Ronaldo had a brief relationship with Karina Ferro. She is a model and journalism and photography student. They were often seen together on beaches, but they parted ways after a few months. Ronaldo then started dating Georgina Rodriguez, a model and actress, in 2006. Their relationship gained significant attention from their fans. But they broke up after a short period. Soraia Chaves, a famous Portuguese actress known for her roles in TV series and films, including “Dancing Days” and “Call Girl,” was linked to Ronaldo. After his breakup with Irina Shayk in early 2015, Ronaldo was associated with Lucia Villalon, a Spanish TV presenter. Ronaldo’s family denied the claims, stating that the relationship did not exist. In 2008, before his move to Real Madrid, Ronaldo was reported to be in a relationship with Nereida Gallardo. She is a popular Spanish model. Eight months later, Ronaldo ended the relationship. It was due to his family’s dissatisfaction with Gallardo’s previous topless photos. It was published in a Spanish magazine.
While some of Ronaldo’s previous relationships are known through gossip magazines and newspaper reports, not all of them have been conclusively verified.
Club Play
After playing for Clube Desportivo Nacional in Madeira, Ronaldo moved to Sporting Clube de Portugal (also known as Sporting Lisbon). He joined the club’s youth teams and eventually made his debut on Sporting’s first team in 2002.
Following an impressive season at Sporting, Ronaldo caught the attention of top European football clubs. He signed with Manchester United in 2003. He became a sensation and was one of the best forwards in the sport. Ronaldo’s most outstanding season at Manchester United was in 2007-08. There he scored 42 goals in league and cup competitions. He was honored with the Golden Shoe award as Europe’s leading scorer, thanks to his 31 goals in the league. Additionally, Ronaldo helped Manchester United win the Champions League title in May 2008 and was named the FIFA World Player of the Year for his exceptional performance that season. He also guided the team to the 2009 Champions League final, but they were defeated by FC Barcelona.
After a period of speculation, Ronaldo made a move to Real Madrid in Spain for a then-record transfer fee of £80 million (approximately $131 million). He continued to showcase his exceptional scoring abilities with his new team, including a remarkable feat of scoring 40 goals in a single La Liga season in 2010-11, setting a new record (later broken by Lionel Messi). In 2011-12, Ronaldo played a key role in helping Real Madrid win a La Liga championship while achieving a personal best of 46 goals in the league. Throughout 2013, Ronaldo’s scoring prowess remained outstanding. He netted a total of 66 goals in 56 appearances for both Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team. This performance earned him his second World Player of the Year award, now known as the FIFA Ballon d’Or. The following year, in 2014, Ronaldo scored 52 goals in 43 games. He played a vital role in Real Madrid winning the Champions League, resulting in another Ballon d’Or award. In the 2014-15 season, Ronaldo led La Liga in scoring with 48 goals. He achieved a significant milestone in October 2015. He scored his 324th goal for Real Madrid, becoming the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. Ronaldo continued his impressive goal-scoring form in 2015-16 with 35 goals in La Liga. He was contributing to Real Madrid’s 11th Champions League title. He was awarded his fourth Ballon d’Or in December 2016. In the 2016-17 season, Ronaldo scored 42 goals across all competitions. He played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s victories in both La Liga and the Champions League, earning him his fifth Ballon d’Or. The following season, in 2017-18, he scored 44 goals in 44 games, and Real Madrid secured their third consecutive Champions League title.
Ronaldo’s time at Real Madrid was marked by incredible goal-scoring achievements. He received numerous trophies.
International Career
After progressing through the youth and under-21 levels, Ronaldo made his debut. It was for Portugal’s national team in August 2003, four days after his debut for Manchester United. He played a crucial role in Portugal’s fourth-place finish at the 2006 World Cup. He was appointed as the team’s full-time captain in 2008. In 2012, Ronaldo’s performances helped Portugal reach the semifinals of the European Championship.
Heading into the 2014 World Cup, Ronaldo was in top form after winning his second World Player of the Year award. Both Ronaldo’s and the performance of the Portugal team were inconsistent. It resulted in their elimination during the group stage of the tournament. In 2016, despite sustaining a knee injury early in the final, Ronaldo played a crucial role in helping Portugal. Ronaldo helped them secure their first major international tournament title. They won the European Championship, although he played limited minutes in the final.
During the 2018 World Cup, Ronaldo excelled. He scored four goals in four games, leading Portugal to the knockout stage. However, they were defeated by a strong defensive team from Uruguay in their first match of that stage. Four years later, Ronaldo made history by becoming the first male player to score in five different World Cups. However, he was not included in the starting lineup for several matches, and Portugal’s journey in the 2022 World Cup ended with a quarterfinal loss.
Endorsements and Legal Issues
Ronaldo was recognized as one of the most popular sports stars worldwide. He enjoyed immense popularity during his prime playing years. His fame and likability led to him becoming one of the highest-paid endorsers in the history of sports. In November 2016, Ronaldo achieved a significant milestone. He secured a “lifetime” contract from Nike. It made him only the third athlete to receive such a contract.
In addition to his endorsements, Ronaldo created his own successful brand called “CR7”. It offered a range of products, including shoes, underwear, and fragrances. Ronaldo faced a legal issue in June 2017. Prosecutors filed a lawsuit against him, accusing him of defrauding the Spanish government of €14.7 million ($16.5 million). He did this by concealing his income from image rights in Spain between 2011 and 2014. The allegations stated that Ronaldo had not accurately reported the income he earned from selling and licensing his image rights, which resulted in tax evasion. Ronaldo consistently denied these accusations.
Eventually, in June 2018, Ronaldo decided to accept a suspended two-year prison sentence and agreed to pay €18.8 million ($21.8 million) to settle the case with the Spanish government. This resolution allowed him to avoid serving actual jail time.
Outside Football
Due to his growing reputation at Manchester United, Ronaldo secured many sponsorship deals. It included various consumer products. These deals included sportswear, football boots (such as the Nike Mercurial Vapor CR7 edition), soft drinks, clothing, automotive lubricants, financial services, electronics, and video games. He was featured as the cover star of EA Sports’ FIFA 18 video game. He participated in its promotion. Ronaldo’s signature “Sii” goal celebration was also incorporated into the FIFA series. It was added with his own voiceover. He also appeared on the covers of Pro Evolution Soccer in 2008, 2012, and 2013.
Ronaldo achieved significant earnings throughout the years. He accumulated €720 million (£615 million) from 2010 to 2019. He ranked second on Forbes’ list of the decade’s highest-paid athletes. His earnings placed him second on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, following Mayweather. In 2016, Ronaldo became the first footballer to lead Forbes’ list of highest-earning athletes. He had a total income of $88 million in the 2015-16 season from salary and endorsements. He maintained his top position in the following year, earning $93 million in 2016-17. Ronaldo is also the first footballer and one of only three sportsmen to reach a career income of $1 billion.
Ronaldo’s marketability is very much regarded, with SportsPro. They ranked him as the fifth most marketable athlete in 2012. He was also the eighth most marketable athlete in 2013 (with Neymar topping both lists). In May 2014, sports market research company Repucom named Ronaldo the most marketable and recognized football player worldwide. He was included in Time magazine’s annual list of the most influential people in the world in 2014. ESPN named him the world’s most famous athlete in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Ronaldo has a strong presence on social media. He is the most popular sportsperson with over 500 million followers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. He was the first person to surpass half a billion followers. Ronaldo’s social media accounts generated a significant media value of $936 million for his sponsors (June 2016 and June 2017). He has also released two mobile apps: an iPhone game called Heads Up with Cristiano in December 2011. The other one is a dedicated social networking website and app called Viva Ronaldo in December 2013.
Ronaldo’s online presence has attracted attention from various sources. He topped a list by computer security company McAfee in 2012. He ranked footballers based on the likelihood of internet searches for their names leading to unsafe websites. Ronaldo’s name was the most likely to lead to unsafe websites. Several works have been created about Ronaldo. It included his autobiography titled Moments, released in December 2007. A television film called Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit, produced by his sponsor Castrol, examined his physical and mental capabilities. In June 2014, a documentary named Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet, narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, was released. Another documentary film, Ronaldo, directed by Anthony Wonke, was released in November 2015.
Demand for replica Ronaldo shirts has been high throughout his career. His Manchester United number 7 shirt was the best-selling Premier League sports product in 2008. In 2015, his Real Madrid number 7 shirt was the second best-selling worldwide. It was followed by Lionel Messi’s Barcelona number 10 shirt. When Ronaldo’s Juventus number 7 shirt was released in 2018, over 520,000 shirts were sold within 24 hours, generating $62.4 million in one day.
Ronaldo has also ventured into the fashion industry. He opened a fashion boutique called CR7. It represents his initials and shirt number, in 2006 on the island of Madeira and a second boutique in Lisbon in 2008. He collaborated with the JBS Textile Group and fashion designer Richard Chai. It was to co-design a range of underwear and sock lines released in November 2013. Ronaldo further expanded his CR7 fashion brand by launching a line of premium shirts and shoes in July 2014. In September 2015, he released his own fragrance called “Legacy” in partnership with Eden Parfums.
