Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (born February 5, 1985) is a Portuguese forward who captains both Al-Nassr of the Saudi Pro League and the Portugal national team. He is, depending on which metric you weigh, either the greatest goalscorer in football history or the most relentless one, a 41-year-old still chasing his 1,000th career goal, still scoring at better than a goal per game in the Saudi Pro League’s 2025–26 season, still the captain of a national team that just qualified for what he has confirmed will be his sixth and final World Cup.
The trophy case is the most decorated of any forward who ever played the game outside Lionel Messi: five Ballon d’Or awards, five UEFA Champions League titles (one with Manchester United, four with Real Madrid), seven league titles across three of Europe’s biggest leagues, and a Euro 2016 trophy that broke Portugal’s senior international duck. He is the all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League, the all-time leading scorer for Real Madrid, the all-time leading scorer in international football with 143 goals for Portugal, and as of June 2025 (courtesy of a contract extension with Al-Nassr that includes a 15% ownership stake), the first footballer ever to reach billionaire status by net worth.
What he has never won is the World Cup. Argentina’s victory in 2022, the same tournament where Portugal exited in the quarterfinals to Morocco, sharpened that absence into the defining open question of his career. Ronaldo enters the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer, the captain who lifted the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League trophy in June 2025, and a player who has explicitly framed the tournament as his last.
People also read: Lionel Messi (8× Ballon d’Or), Neymar (2013 FIFA Confederations Cup), Kylian Mbappé (2018 World Cup), Ronaldo Nazário (2× FIFA World Cup champion)
Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro |
| Profession: | Professional footballer |
| Born: | February 5, 1985 |
| Age: | 41 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal |
| Nationality: | Portuguese |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (187 cm) |
| Sport: | Soccer / Football |
| Position: | Forward (Center Forward / Right Winger) |
| Current Club: | Al-Nassr FC (Saudi Pro League) |
| National Team: | Portugal (captain) |
| Jersey Number: | #7 (Al-Nassr and Portugal) |
| Preferred Foot: | Right |
| Known For: | All-time international goalscoring leader (143 goals); all-time UEFA Champions League leading scorer; 5× Ballon d’Or winner; first footballer to reach billionaire net worth status |
| Notable Achievements: | UEFA Euro 2016; 2× UEFA Nations League (2019, 2025); 5× UEFA Champions League; 7× league titles across England, Spain, and Italy; 5× Ballon d’Or |
| Awards: | 5× Ballon d’Or, 4× The Best FIFA Men’s Player / FIFA World Player of the Year, 4× European Golden Shoe, 2× Laureus World Sportsman of the Year |
| Zodiac Sign: | Aquarius |
| Relationship: | Engaged to Georgina Rodríguez (since August 2025); five children |
| Years Active (Pro): | 2002 to present |
Featured Video
Video courtesy of Real Madrid’s official YouTube channel.
Early Life & Education
Cristiano Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira, the youngest of four children of José Dinis Aveiro, a municipal gardener and part-time kit man for a local club, and Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, a cook. He was named after Ronald Reagan, his father’s favorite actor. The family lived in Santo António, a working-class neighborhood, in conditions Ronaldo has spoken about openly, his mother has said she considered terminating the pregnancy because the family could not afford another child, and Ronaldo has recalled standing outside a McDonald’s late at night with his siblings hoping the staff would hand them leftover burgers. His father was an alcoholic who would die in 2005, when Ronaldo was 20 and just becoming a star at Manchester United.
Football was the obvious exit. He played first for the local club Andorinha, where his father was the kit man, then for Nacional in Funchal. At 12 he traveled to mainland Portugal to trial with Sporting CP and signed almost immediately, moving to Lisbon and the club’s famed academy at an age when most kids are starting middle school. Around the same time, he was diagnosed with a racing heart condition that required laser surgery, the procedure took place during the international break, and he was running again within days. He made his Sporting first-team debut at 17, and in August 2003, at the opening of Sporting’s new Estádio José Alvalade, he played a friendly against Manchester United so impressive that Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly told his United players in the dressing room afterward that they were not leaving Lisbon without him. The transfer fee, £12.24 million for an 18-year-old who had never played in a top European league, set a record for a teenager. Formal education ended in Lisbon. The curriculum became Ferguson’s.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Ronaldo’s six seasons at Manchester United transformed him from a stepover-heavy winger with show-pony tendencies into one of the most complete forwards in world football. Ferguson and his staff broke down his game and rebuilt it around end product. By his fifth season, 2007–08, he scored 42 goals in all competitions, won the Premier League and the Champions League (defeating Chelsea in Moscow on penalties), and was awarded his first Ballon d’Or. United won three consecutive Premier League titles from 2007 to 2009 with Ronaldo as the central attacking force. In the summer of 2009, Real Madrid signed him for what was then a world-record £80 million.
The Madrid years were the peak. Ronaldo scored 450 goals in 438 appearances for Real Madrid (still the club record) and won four Champions League titles in five seasons between 2014 and 2018, including three in a row from 2016 to 2018 (the only player to do so since the European Cup became the Champions League). He won the Ballon d’Or four more times during that stretch (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017), broke the Champions League single-season scoring record with 17 goals in 2013–14, and finished his Madrid career as the all-time leading scorer in the competition. A messy summer in 2018 sent him to Juventus, where he won two Serie A titles in three seasons and added another European Golden Shoe but never delivered the Champions League the club had signed him to win. A return to Manchester United in 2021–22 produced 24 goals but ended in mutual acrimony in November 2022 after a televised interview with Piers Morgan in which he openly criticized the club’s manager and ownership.
Saudi Arabia made the next move. In December 2022, weeks after Argentina won the World Cup and Portugal’s was ended by Morocco, Al-Nassr signed Ronaldo to what was then the most lucrative contract in sports history. The move was widely framed as a soft retirement; instead, it became a third act. He scored 35 league goals in 2023–24 to win the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot, captained Portugal to the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League title in June 2025 (scoring in the final against Spain), signed a contract extension worth a reported $620 million through June 2027 that made him football’s first billionaire by net worth, and entered the 2025–26 season at age 40 still scoring at roughly a goal per game. As of early April 2026, he sits at 967 career goals for club and country, has captained Portugal through qualification for the 2026 World Cup (his record sixth) and has confirmed it will be his last.
Selected Career Highlights
- Signed by Sporting CP at age 12; first-team debut at 17 (2002)
- Transferred to Manchester United for £12.24 million, then a record for a teenager (August 2003)
- Won FA Cup with Manchester United (2004)
- 3× Premier League champion with Manchester United (2007, 2008, 2009)
- Won UEFA Champions League with Manchester United, beating Chelsea on penalties in Moscow (May 2008)
- First Ballon d’Or (2008)
- Transferred to Real Madrid for world-record £80 million (June 2009)
- Won UEFA Euro 2016 with Portugal: country’s first major senior trophy
- 4× UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), three consecutive
- 5× Ballon d’Or (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
- All-time leading scorer in UEFA Champions League history
- Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer (450 goals in 438 appearances)
- 2× Serie A champion with Juventus (2019, 2020)
- Returned to Manchester United (2021); club’s top scorer in 2021–22 with 24 goals
- Signed with Al-Nassr in the most lucrative contract in sports history (December 2022)
- All-time leading scorer in international football, surpassing Ali Daei (2021), now at 143 goals for Portugal
- Won 2024–25 UEFA Nations League with Portugal, scoring in the final against Spain (June 2025)
- Signed Al-Nassr extension reportedly worth $620 million through June 2027, including 15% club ownership; became football’s first billionaire by net worth (June 2025)
- All-time top scorer in World Cup qualifying history (October 2025)
- Qualified for 2026 FIFA World Cup, his record sixth (November 2025)
- Approaching 1,000 career goals (967 as of early April 2026)
Major Recognition
- 5× Ballon d’Or (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
- 4× The Best FIFA Men’s Player / FIFA World Player of the Year (2008, 2016, 2017; FIFA World Player of the Year 2008)
- 4× European Golden Shoe (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015): most of any player at the time of his fourth
- 2× Laureus World Sportsman of the Year (2014, 2017)
- UEFA Best Player in Europe Award (2014, 2016, 2017)
- Player of the Season honors across the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A
- All-time leading scorer in UEFA Champions League history
- All-time leading scorer in international football (143 goals)
- All-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifying matches (41+ goals)
- First footballer to score in five different FIFA World Cups (2018)
- First footballer to reach billionaire net worth status (June 2025)
- Most-followed person on Instagram (660+ million followers)
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Context | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | First career win, Manchester United treble | Won |
| 2008 | FIFA World Player of the Year | Best Player | UEFA Champions League win | Won |
| 2013 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | Real Madrid (second career) | Won |
| 2014 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | Real Madrid Champions League win | Won |
| 2014 | Laureus World Sportsman | Sportsman of the Year | Career | Won |
| 2016 | UEFA European Championship | Champion | Portugal, country’s first major trophy | Won |
| 2016 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | Real Madrid + Euro 2016 | Won |
| 2017 | Ballon d’Or | World’s Best Player | Fifth career; back-to-back Champions League | Won |
| 2017 | The Best FIFA Men’s Player | Best Men’s Player | Real Madrid | Won |
| 2018 | UEFA Champions League | Champion | Real Madrid, third consecutive | Won |
| 2019 | UEFA Nations League | Champion | Portugal (inaugural edition) | Won |
| 2021 | International Goals Record | Top scorer (men’s) | Surpassed Ali Daei | Set Record |
| 2025 | UEFA Nations League | Champion | Portugal, second title | Won |
| 2025 | Saudi Pro League | Top Scorer (Golden Boot) | Al-Nassr | Won |
Career Stats & Records
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Assists | Trophies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Manchester United | Premier League | 40 | 6 | 8 | FA Cup |
| 2007–08 | Manchester United | Premier League | 49 | 42* | 8 | Premier League, UEFA Champions League |
| 2008–09 | Manchester United | Premier League | 53 | 26 | 7 | Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup |
| 2010–11 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 54 | 53* | 14 | Copa del Rey |
| 2011–12 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 55 | 60 | 16 | La Liga |
| 2013–14 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 47 | 51 | 14 | Champions League (UCL Top Scorer: 17) |
| 2014–15 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 54 | 61* | 22 | European Golden Shoe |
| 2016–17 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 46 | 42 | 12 | La Liga, Champions League, Club World Cup |
| 2017–18 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 44 | 44 | 8 | Champions League (third consecutive) |
| 2019–20 | Juventus | Serie A | 46 | 37 | 7 | Serie A |
| 2021–22 | Manchester United | Premier League | 38 | 24 | 3 | Club top scorer |
| 2023–24 | Al-Nassr | Saudi Pro League | 45 | 44 | 13 | SPL Golden Boot (35 league goals)* |
| 2024–25 | Al-Nassr | Saudi Pro League | 41 | 35 | 11 | UEFA Nations League (Portugal) |
| 2025–26 | Al-Nassr | Saudi Pro League | 23+ | 23+ | 2+ | In progress, career goal #967 (Mar 2026) |
Apps = Appearances across all club competitions for the season; Goals and Assists across all club competitions. Asterisks (*) indicate league-leading or record-setting numbers. Selected seasons shown. Career totals exceed 1,250+ club appearances and 800+ club goals across Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr.
Club & National Team History
Club Career
| Years | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Trophies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2003 | Sporting CP | Primeira Liga (Portugal) | 31 | 5 | Supertaça (Super Cup) |
| 2003–2009 | Manchester United | Premier League (England) | 292 | 118 | 3× Premier League; UEFA Champions League; FA Cup; 2× League Cup; FIFA Club World Cup; 3× Community Shield (10 trophies total) |
| 2009–2018 | Real Madrid | La Liga (Spain) | 438 | 450 | 2× La Liga; 4× UEFA Champions League; 2× Copa del Rey; 2× Supercopa de España; 3× FIFA Club World Cup; 3× UEFA Super Cup (16 trophies total) |
| 2018–2021 | Juventus | Serie A (Italy) | 134 | 101 | 2× Serie A; Coppa Italia; 2× Supercoppa Italiana (5 trophies total) |
| 2021–2022 | Manchester United (return) | Premier League | 54 | 27 | No team trophies |
| 2023–present | Al-Nassr | Saudi Pro League | 138+ | 123+ | Arab Club Champions Cup (2023); 2× Saudi Pro League Golden Boot |
National Team Career
| Years | National Team | Caps | Goals | Major Tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–present | Portugal (senior) | 223+ | 143+ | UEFA Euro 2016 champion; 2× UEFA Nations League (2019, 2025); 2026 FIFA World Cup qualified (sixth appearance, record); Euro 2004 finalist; 2006 World Cup semifinalist |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Net Worth (2026) | Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index reported in 2025 that Ronaldo had become football’s first billionaire, with a net worth estimated at approximately $1.4 billion following his June 2025 Al-Nassr extension. Forbes named him the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2024 and 2025. Public estimates of his net worth vary; he has not personally disclosed a verified figure. Treat numbers found online as unconfirmed. |
| Income Sources | Al-Nassr playing contract (reported $200–245 million per year base salary), 15% Al-Nassr ownership stake (reported value approximately $42 million), endorsement portfolio led by Nike (lifetime deal reported at $1 billion), CR7 brand businesses (hotels, fragrances, clothing, gyms, mineral water), image rights, social media revenue, real estate, and other investments. |
| Endorsements & Partnerships | Nike (lifetime deal since 2016, reportedly worth $1 billion with $100 million signing bonus). Long-running deals with Herbalife, Clear shampoo, Tag Heuer, and Armani. More recent partnerships include Binance, Visit Saudi Arabia, Whoop, and Castrol. CR7-branded businesses include Pestana CR7 Hotels (joint venture with Pestana group), CR7 Fitness gyms, CR7 Underwear and footwear lines, and CR7 Drive mineral water. He also holds a 25% stake in Spanish club UD Almería (acquired 2025). |
| Properties & Assets | Reported residences in Riyadh (current primary residence), Funchal (Madeira), Lisbon, Madrid (La Finca), and Turin. Significant real estate portfolio reportedly valued in the tens of millions, plus a noted car collection. Most personal property and investment details are kept private; verified figures beyond major reported real estate are limited. |
| Lifestyle | Famously disciplined, known for an austere training and nutrition regimen, multiple training sessions per day, and a near-monastic relationship with sleep. Engaged to Georgina Rodríguez (since August 2025); five children (Cristiano Jr., twins Eva and Mateo, Alana Martina, Bella Esmeralda; the couple lost newborn twin Ángel in 2022). Active philanthropist through donations to children’s hospitals and disaster relief; a notable blood and bone marrow donor advocate. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Official account: @cristiano (verified). Approximately 660 million followers, the most-followed person on Instagram and the most-followed account globally. Used for match content, family moments, brand partnerships, and CR7 business promotion. | |
| X (Twitter) | Official account: @Cristiano (verified). Approximately 110 million followers. Active during major matches and announcements. |
| Official page: @Cristiano (verified). Approximately 170 million followers. Cross-posted content from Instagram. | |
| TikTok | As of April 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo does not have an active, verified, or official personal TikTok account, and his previous attempt to join the platform was reportedly banned due to massive, disruptive growth. Previous Attempt: A previous account, which appeared official, gained over 5 million followers within hours before being removed. |
| YouTube | Official channel: UR · Cristiano (launched August 2024). Reached 1 million subscribers within 90 minutes of launch, a YouTube record at the time. Crossed 100 million subscribers in 2025. |
| Official Al-Nassr Profile | Al-Nassr FC official site, official club bio and stats. |
| Foundation / Charity | Conducted through personal donations and partnerships with organizations including Save the Children and UNICEF, rather than a single named foundation. |
| Official Website | cristianoronaldo.com, career achievements, news, and CR7 brand content. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: In addition to any official accounts listed above, an enormous global ecosystem of fan-run pages, clip accounts, statistical tracker accounts, and dedicated highlight pages exists across all platforms in dozens of languages. Some of the largest unofficial CR7 fan accounts have followings in the millions. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with Cristiano Ronaldo or his management. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- He is named after Ronald Reagan, who was his father’s favorite actor.
- He had laser surgery for a racing heart condition (tachycardia) in his teens at Sporting CP and was running again within days. He has since become one of the most prominent advocates for blood and bone marrow donation; he reportedly does not have any tattoos partly because they would prevent him from donating blood as frequently.
- Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly told his Manchester United squad after a 2003 friendly against Sporting CP that they were not getting back on the plane until they had signed the 18-year-old who had just terrorized them. The transfer was completed within days.
- He launched a YouTube channel in August 2024 and reached one million subscribers in 90 minutes, a YouTube record. His channel crossed 100 million subscribers in 2025.
- His mother once said publicly that she had considered terminating the pregnancy with him because the family could not afford another child. Ronaldo has spoken openly about this and bought her a house in Funchal as soon as he could afford it.
- In June 2025 he became the first footballer in history to be officially classified as a billionaire by net worth (per Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index): a milestone that arrived after his Al-Nassr contract extension granted him a 15% ownership stake in the club.
Quotes
“I don’t have to show anything to anyone. There is nothing more to prove.”
– Cristiano Ronaldo, post-match interview after Real Madrid’s 2017 Champions League final win, Cardiff (June 2017)
“We did it. I am a happy man. I dreamed of this. The five-time European champions can no longer be Spain. They are now Portugal.”
– Cristiano Ronaldo, after Portugal’s UEFA Euro 2016 Final win over France, Saint-Denis (July 10, 2016)
“Talent without working hard is nothing.”
– Cristiano Ronaldo, interview with FourFourTwo magazine (2015)
“Definitely, yes, because I will be 41 years old [at the World Cup]. I gave everything for football. I’ve been in the game for the last 25 years. I did everything. I have many records in different scenarios in the clubs and also in the national teams. I’m really proud. So let’s enjoy the moment, live the moment.”
– Cristiano Ronaldo, confirming 2026 will be his final World Cup, post-match comments after Portugal qualified (November 2025)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How old is Cristiano Ronaldo?
A: He was born on February 5, 1985. He is 41 years old as of 2026.
Q: What team does Cristiano Ronaldo play for?
A: He plays for Al-Nassr FC in the Saudi Pro League and captains the Portugal national team. He joined Al-Nassr in January 2023 and signed a contract extension in June 2025 reportedly worth $620 million through June 2027, including a 15% ownership stake in the club.
Q: How many Ballon d’Or awards has Ronaldo won?
A: Five (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017). He is one of two players in history to win five or more, the other being Lionel Messi (8).
Q: Has Ronaldo won the World Cup?
A: No. He has played in five FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022) and Portugal qualified for a sixth in 2026, a tournament Ronaldo has confirmed will be his last. Portugal’s best World Cup finish during his career was a quarterfinal exit in 2022.
Q: How tall is Cristiano Ronaldo?
A: He is 6 feet 2 inches (187 cm) tall.
Q: What endorsement deals does Ronaldo have?
A: His most significant deal is a lifetime partnership with Nike, reportedly worth approximately $1 billion. Other major partnerships include Herbalife, Clear, Tag Heuer, Armani, Binance, Whoop, and Visit Saudi Arabia. He also runs the CR7-branded businesses (hotels, fragrances, clothing, gyms, mineral water) and holds ownership stakes in Al-Nassr and Spanish club UD Almería.
Q: What are Ronaldo’s official social accounts?
A: His verified accounts include @cristiano on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube; @Cristiano on X; and the Cristiano Ronaldo Facebook page.
Upcoming Projects / Season Outlook
- 2026 FIFA World Cup (June–July 2026, USA / Canada / Mexico), Confirmed by Ronaldo as his final World Cup. Portugal drawn in Group K alongside Uzbekistan, Colombia, and a Playoff winner (DR Congo or Jamaica). Portugal opens the group stage on June 17 in Houston. With qualification secured in November 2025, Ronaldo will become the first male player to appear in six World Cups.
- 2025–26 Saudi Pro League season, Al-Nassr enters the final stretch of the season in title contention; Ronaldo sits among the league’s top scorers (23 goals in 23 matches as of early April 2026) and is closing in on 100 career Saudi Pro League goals and the 1,000-goal career milestone.
- AFC Champions League Two and Saudi King’s Cup 2025–26, Active competitions for Al-Nassr; potential additional silverware before the 2026 World Cup.
- Career milestones, Approaching the historic 1,000-goal mark for club and country (967 as of early April 2026), as well as the 100-goal milestone in the Saudi Pro League.
- Wedding to Georgina Rodríguez, The couple announced their engagement in August 2025; a wedding date has not been formally publicized, but Ronaldo has discussed it openly in interviews including with Piers Morgan.
Interviews & Features
- Fortune, “Cristiano Ronaldo is football’s first-ever billionaire” (October 2025), reporting on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index milestone that made Ronaldo the first footballer to officially cross billionaire net worth status.
- ESPN, “Cristiano Ronaldo player page” (ongoing), ESPN’s running tracker of his Al-Nassr and Portugal performances, including the path to 1,000 career goals.
- Al Jazeera, “Ireland vs Portugal: Ronaldo confirms 2026 World Cup will be his last” (November 2025), the match-side comments in which Ronaldo publicly confirmed the 2026 tournament as his international swan song.
Public Appearances, Games, & Events
- UEFA Euro 2016 Final (July 10, 2016): Captained Portugal to a 1–0 extra-time win over France in Saint-Denis, France. Ronaldo was forced off injured early but rallied his teammates from the touchline; Portugal’s first major senior trophy.
- UEFA Champions League Final (May 26, 2018): Lifted his fifth Champions League trophy in Kyiv as Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3–1, the third consecutive Champions League for Madrid.
- Al-Nassr unveiling (January 3, 2023): Presented as an Al-Nassr player at Mrsool Park in Riyadh, in front of an estimated 25,000 fans, one of the most-watched club unveilings in football history.
- UEFA Nations League Final (June 8, 2025): Scored as Portugal beat Spain 5–3 on penalties (2–2 after extra time) in Munich to win the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League. Portugal’s third major senior trophy.
- 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification clinched (November 16, 2025): Although Ronaldo was suspended for the match itself, Portugal’s 9–1 home win over Armenia in Porto secured his record sixth World Cup appearance.
