On this day, February 5, 1985, a star was born in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal—Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, a name that would echo through football history. Unknown to those around him, this child would grow up to mesmerize the world with his athletic prowess, bringing joy to every heart, inspiring hard work, determination, and dedication, and becoming one of the greatest sportsmen in the world.
From an early age, Ronaldo showed exceptional football talent and joined Andorinha, a local club before moving to Nacional. At age 12, he joined Sporting CP’s academy in Lisbon, leaving behind his family to pursue his football dreams.
In 2002, the 17-year-old made his professional debut for Sporting CP, and his speed, skill, and dribbling immediately began to impress. Especially catching the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson after the player put on a fantastic performance against his side – Manchester United – during a friendly match. The Manchester United manager eventually signed the player in 2003 for a record fee of £12.24 million, making him the most expensive teenager in English football at the time.
Arriving in England for Manchester United, Ronaldo metamorphosed from a stylish winger with shirt number seven into one of the world’s best players. He won three Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League (2007-2008), an FA Cup, two League Cups, and his first Ballon d’Or in 2008. In that campaign, he netted 42 goals, ensuring that United won the league and Champions League double.
In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo was signed by Real Madrid for a then-world record fee of €94 million. During his nine-year tenure at the club (2009–2018), he became Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer, netting an incredible 451 goals in 438 matches. His time in Madrid was marked by numerous achievements, including:
– 4 UEFA Champions League titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), bringing his total Champions League trophies to five;
– 2 La Liga titles;
– 4 Ballon d’Or awards;
– 3 FIFA Club World Cup titles.
In 2018, Ronaldo transferred to Juventus for €100 million. During his time in Italy, he won two Serie A titles and became the league’s top scorer in 2021 with 29 goals.
In 2021, Ronaldo returned to Manchester United, where he made an immediate impact under manager Erik ten Hag. However, a prolonged fallout with the manager led to his premature departure from the club in 2022.
In December 2022, Ronaldo signed a record-breaking contract with Al Nassr, joining the growing list of high-profile players moving to the Saudi Pro League.
On the international stage, Ronaldo made his professional debut for Portugal in 2003 at the age of 18. He has since earned over 200 caps, making him the most-capped male player in football history. His international achievements include:
– Winning Euro 2016 (Portugal’s first major title);
– Securing the UEFA Nations League title in 2019.
Ronaldo has also participated in five FIFA World Cup tournaments, scoring eight goals. As one of the world’s most famous athletes, Ronaldo is the third sportsman to earn over US$1 billion in his career. He currently holds the record for the most goals scored in professional football, with an astonishing 923 goals to his name.
