Cristiano Ronaldo (born February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal) is a Portuguese football striker widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation. Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017).

Life and Career

Ronaldo’s father, José Dinis Aveiro, was the equipment manager for the local club Andorinha. During his childhood, Ronaldo was diagnosed with a heart condition that required surgery, but he made a full recovery. He began his football journey at Clube Desportivo Nacional of Madeira before transferring to Sporting Clube de Portugal (Sporting Lisbon), where he debuted for the first team in 2002. Standing 6.1 feet (185 cm) tall, Ronaldo started as a right winger and later transitioned into a striker. After a successful season with Sporting, he caught the attention of major football clubs and signed with Manchester United in 2003. His sensational performances quickly established him as one of the game’s best forwards. The 2008 season, in particular, was a standout year, where Ronaldo scored 42 league and club goals, earning numerous accolades including Europe’s leading scorer, FIFA World Player of the Year, and the Ballon d’Or.

In 2009, Ronaldo transferred to Real Madrid for a then-record €80 million fee. His goal-scoring prowess continued, setting records in La Liga and helping Madrid to multiple titles. In the 2011-12 season, he scored 46 goals in La Liga and guided Madrid to a league title. He also earned his second Ballon d’Or in 2013 after scoring 66 goals across all competitions. In 2014, he helped Madrid secure a Champions League victory, earning another Ballon d’Or. By 2015-16, Ronaldo had become Real Madrid's all-time leading scorer with 324 goals. He continued his remarkable form, winning multiple Champions League titles and earning his fourth and fifth Ballon d’Or awards in 2016 and 2017, respectively. By the end of the 2017-18 season, Ronaldo had won three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid, scoring 44 goals in 44 matches.

In July 2018, Ronaldo signed a four-year contract with Juventus for €112 million. He scored 28 goals in his debut season, contributing to Juventus winning its eighth consecutive league title. Over the next few seasons, he helped Juventus secure additional domestic titles, but his goal tally slightly dipped compared to his Real Madrid years. In 2021, he returned to Manchester United but faced challenges in his second spell. After mutually terminating his contract in November 2022, he joined Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr the following month.

International Career

On the international stage, Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal’s senior national team in August 2003, just days after his Manchester United debut. He played a key role in Portugal’s fourth-place finish at the 2006 World Cup and became the team’s full-time captain in 2008. Ronaldo led Portugal to their first major international trophy at UEFA Euro 2016, despite being injured in the final. He also guided Portugal to victory in the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019. Over his career, he has broken numerous records, including becoming the all-time top scorer in European Championships and international football. In September 2024, Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal and holds the world record for most 135 international goals since his debut in 2003.