Ronaldo

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Born in Funchal, Madeira, Ronaldo began his career with Sporting CP before signing with Manchester United in 2003. He gradually established himself as an integral player for the club, winning three consecutive Premier League titles, the 2007–08 Champions League, and the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. For his performances in 2007–08, Ronaldo was awarded his first Ballon d'Or at age 23. In 2009, he joined Real Madrid in a deal worth €94 million (£80 million), which was the most expensive transfer in history at the time. He was at the forefront of Madrid's resurgence as a dominant European force, helping them win four Champions Leagues between 2014 and 2018, including the long-awaited La Décima in 2014, where he set the record for most goals scored in a Champions League season. With Madrid, he also won two La Liga titles, won the Ballon d'Or in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017, and became the club's all-time top goalscorer. Following issues with the hierarchy at Real Madrid, Ronaldo signed for Juventus in 2018 in a transfer worth a league record of €100 million, and was pivotal in winning two consecutive Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia, and the Capocannoniere in 2021 as the league's top scorer. In 2021, he returned to Manchester United, but his contract was terminated in 2022 after a public dispute with the club's management. Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2023, and led them to the Saudi Pro League title in 2026, while also finishing as the league's top scorer in 2024 and 2025.

In Their Own Story

Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal in 2003 at the age of 18, and has earned more than 200 caps, making him history's most-capped male player. He scored his first international goal in Euro 2004, where he helped Portugal reach the final. He assumed the captaincy of the national team ahead of Euro 2008, and led Portugal to their first major tournament title at Euro 2016. At Euro 2020, he received the Golden Boot as the top scorer. He won the UEFA Nations Leagues in 2019 and 2025, finishing as the top scorer in both the tournaments. In 2026, he became the first player to score in six World Cup tournaments and his country's top goalscorer at the World Cup (11).

Did You Know?

• Ronaldo was named after United States president Ronald Reagan, whom his father admired.
• Ronaldo's mother revealed she had wanted to abort him due to poverty, his father's alcoholism, and having too many children already, but her doctor refused to perform the procedure.
• At age 14, Ronaldo made an agreement with his mother and his Sporting CP tutor to cease his education and focus entirely on football; he did not complete schooling beyond the 6th grade.
• Ronaldo was diagnosed with tachycardia at age 15 and underwent cardiac ablation, a type of heart surgery, before resuming training a few days later.
• Ronaldo is the only player to have scored 100 goals with four different clubs and to finish as top scorer in four different domestic leagues.