Cristiano Ronaldo

Lore & Background

Ronaldo began his career with Sporting CP before signing with Manchester United in 2003 for £12 million, an England record for a teenager. He made his debut as a substitute in a 4-0 win over Bolton Wanderers on 16 August 2003, with George Best calling it 'undoubtedly the most exciting debut' he had ever seen. After winning three consecutive Premier League titles and the 2007-08 Champions League, he joined Real Madrid in 2009 for €94 million, then the most expensive transfer ever. At Madrid, he helped win four Champions Leagues between 2014 and 2018, including La Décima in 2014, and became the club's all-time top goalscorer. He signed for Juventus in 2018 for a league-record €100 million, winning two Serie A titles and the Capocannoniere in 2021. After a return to Manchester United in 2021, his contract was terminated in 2022 following a public dispute. He joined Al-Nassr in 2023, leading them to the Saudi Pro League title in 2026 while finishing as top scorer in 2024 and 2025.

Reader's Guide

Born in Funchal, Madeira, Ronaldo began playing for Andorinha from 1992 to 1995, then spent two years with Nacional. At age 12, he went on a three-day trial with Sporting CP, which signed him for £1,500. He moved to Lisbon to join Sporting's youth system. At 14, he made an agreement with his mother and his Sporting tutor to cease his education and focus entirely on football; he did not complete schooling beyond the 6th grade. After impressing in Sporting's youth teams, he was promoted to the first team by manager László Bölöni. On 14 August 2002, at age 17, he played his first official match in a Champions League qualifier against Inter Milan. His Primeira Liga debut came a month later against Braga, and on 7 October he scored two goals against Moreirense in a 3-0 win. After Sporting defeated Manchester United 3-1 in a friendly on 6 August 2003, United manager Alex Ferguson described him as 'one of the most exciting young players' he had ever seen and signed him less than a week later.

Did You Know?

• Ronaldo was named after United States president Ronald Reagan, whom his father admired.
• His mother revealed she had wanted to abort him due to poverty and his father's alcoholism, but her doctor refused to perform the procedure.
• At age 14, Ronaldo was diagnosed with tachycardia and underwent cardiac ablation surgery, being discharged hours later and resuming training a few days after.
• He was expelled from school after throwing a chair at a teacher who he said had 'disrespected' him.
• Ronaldo's father served in the Portuguese Army during the Portuguese Colonial War and saw combat in Angola, which led to a lifelong struggle with alcoholism.