Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, born on February 5, 1985, is a Portuguese professional footballer. He is currently the captain of the Portugal national team and plays as a forward for Al Nassr, a club in the Saudi Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo Profile Summary
Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Gender: Male
Date of birth: February 5, 1985
Place of birth: Funchal, Portugal
Nationality: Portuguese
Current Club: Al-Nassr FC
Role: Forward
Hair colour: Brown
Eye colour: Hazel Brown
Height: 1.87 m
Who is Cristiano Ronaldo?
Many consider Cristiano Ronaldo to be one of the greatest football players of all time. Born in Portugal, Ronaldo first gained attention as a young player for Sporting CP before transferring to Manchester United in 2003 at the age of 18. Over six seasons with the club, he led United to three Premier League titles and a Champions League title.
In 2009, Ronaldo made a record transfer to Real Madrid for £80 million, At Real Madrid, Ronaldo evolved into a goal-scoring phenomenon. He holds the record for most goals in Real Madrid’s history and most goals in a single Champions League season with 17 goals.
The rivalry between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has driven interest in football for over a decade. Ronaldo’s skill and fame made him loved by many but also controversial. Still, his impact on the game of football is massive. Ronaldo’s hard work and talent have motivated countless young players, such as Vinicius Junior, Gernacho, and Jude Bellingham.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Net Worth
As of 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo’s estimated net worth is between $500 million and $600 million, making him one of the wealthiest athletes in the world.
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s Untold Story
Cristiano Ronaldo’s life story is indeed inspiring. He was born into poverty in Portugal and grew up in a humble neighbourhood, living in a small home with his family. His football talent was evident from a young age, as he joined a youth team at just eight years old, competing against much older children.
Heart Condition at age 15
Ronaldo’s big break came at age 15 when he was diagnosed with a heart condition. His family couldn’t afford treatment, but luckily, Sporting Lisbon football club offered to pay for his medical care in exchange for him joining their youth academy. Ronaldo excelled there, showcasing his fancy footwork, speed, and goal-scoring prowess.
Signing with Manchester United
At age 18, Ronaldo signed with Manchester United, moving to England to pursue his dreams. His time with United was a resounding success. Ronaldo helped the club win three Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy. His style of play and charisma made him to be loved by the fans. During this period, Ronaldo transformed into a global superstar and one of the best footballers in the world.
In 2009, Ronaldo made a record transfer to Spanish club Real Madrid. There, he reached an even greater level of success and fame. Ronaldo scored an astonishing 451 goals for Real and helped the club win 15 major trophies, including four more Champions League titles. He won the Ballon d’Or award for being the world’s best player a record five times. Ronaldo cemented his status as one of the all-time greats.
10 Fun Facts of Cristiano Ronaldo
- Ronaldo was well-liked by his classmates, but he was dismissed at the age of 14 for throwing a chair at his instructor. Ronaldo stated that he did it because the teacher was disrespectful to him. Despite the fact that it was a terrible event, it proved to be a significant turning point in his life. His mother then encouraged him to devote his entire concentration to football, which he accomplished, making him an international celebrity.
- In 2008, Ronaldo set a club record by scoring 42 goals, just a year after signing a five-year, £31 million contract. He was also honoured as the FIFA World Player of the Year.
- Ronaldo was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of 15, which could have potentially ended his football career. However, he underwent surgery to address the issue. Remarkably, Ronaldo was released from the hospital the same day as his surgery, and he resumed training just a few days later.
- In June 2010, during the build-up to the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo became the fourth footballer to be immortalized as a waxwork at Madame Tussauds London, joining Steven Gerrard, Pelé, and England’s David Beckham.
- Cristiano Ronaldo defeated a Spanish sprinter, Angel David Rodriguez, by half a minute in the zigzag sprint challenge but was defeated by a professional sprinter in the straight-line race.
- In May 2014, Forbes ranked Ronaldo first on their list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, with earnings of $73 million from salaries, bonuses, and off-field profits in the previous year.
- In November 2012, Ronaldo sold the golden boot he earned in 2011 for €1.5 million and used the proceeds to establish schools for children in Gaza. Then, in December 2012, Ronaldo joined FIFA’s ’11 for Health’ program to raise awareness among children about avoiding illnesses such as drug addiction, HIV, malaria, and obesity.
- Ronaldo holds the record of the most followed person on Instagram, having over 620 million followers.
- His first professional game for Sporting Lisbon came at the age of 17 when he played in a “Portuguese Super League” game, and that was the start of a path that would lead him to become one of the best players in the world.
- Ronaldo accomplished the milestone of reaching 200 goals in the UEFA Champions League in just 204 games, making him the fastest player to do so.
