Cristiano Ronaldo - Team, Kids & Facts (2024)

(1985-)

Who Is Cristiano Ronaldo?

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro is a Portuguese soccer superstar. By 2003 — when he was just 16 years old — Manchester United paid £12 million (over $14 million U.S. dollars) to sign him, a record fee for a player of his age.

In the 2004 FA Cup final, Ronaldo scored Manchester's first three goals and helped them capture the championship. He set a franchise record for goals scored in 2008, before Real Madrid paid a record $131 million for his services the following year.

Among his many accomplishments, he has won a record-tying five Ballon d'Or awards for player of the year, and led Portugal to an emotional victory in the 2016 European Championship. In July 2018, Ronaldo embarked on a new phase of his career by signing with Italian Serie A club Juventus.

Cristiano Ronaldo - Team, Kids & Facts (1)

Cristiano Ronaldo at a Real Madrid game.

Early Life

Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, a small island off the western coast of the country. Ronaldo is the youngest of four children born to Maria Dolores dos Santos and José Dinis Aveiro. He was named after Ronald Reagan, one of his father's favorite actors.

Ronaldo grew up in a largely working class neighborhood in a small tin-roofed home that overlooked the ocean. Ronaldo was introduced to the game of soccer through his dad, who worked as an equipment manager at a boy's club.

His early life was shaped by hardship, as his father often drank too much. To help keep the children fed and maintain some financial stability, Ronaldo's mother worked as a cook and cleaning person.

In 2005, when Ronaldo was playing for Manchester United, his father died from alcohol-related kidney problems; in 2007, his mother struggled with breast cancer. The former was especially hard for Ronaldo since he and his dad had been close.

The young athlete had often pushed for his father to enter rehab and address his drinking. His father, however, never accepted the offer.

By the time he was 10 years old, Ronaldo was already recognized as a phenomenon — a kid who ate, slept and drank soccer. "All he wanted to do as a boy was play football," his godfather, Fernao Sousa, recalled for British reporters, adding, "He loved the game so much he'd miss meals or escape out of his bedroom window with a ball when he was supposed to be doing his homework."

By his early teens, Ronaldo's talent and legend had grown considerably. After a stint with Nacional da liha da Madeira, he signed with Sporting Portugal in 2001.

Soccer Career

Manchester United

In 2001, when Ronaldo was just 16 years old, Manchester United paid more than £12 million to sign him — a record fee for a player of his age.

Ronaldo had turned heads with a mesmerizing performance with Portugal against Manchester, wowing even his opponents with his footwork and deft skill. He made such an impression that a number of United players asked their manager to try and sign the young player, which the team soon did.

Ronaldo did not disappoint the soccer world: He showed his promise early on in the 2004 FA Cup final, scoring the team's first three goals and helping them capture the championship. In 2007, Ronaldo signed a five-year, £31 million contract.

A year later, Ronaldo again justified his high salary when he put together one of the club's finest seasons in history, setting a franchise record for goals scored (42), and earning himself the FIFA World Player of the Year honor for 2008. In all, Ronaldo helped steer Manchester United to three premier league titles.

Real Madrid

In 2009, the Spanish soccer club Real Madrid agreed to pay Manchester United a record $131 million for the chance to sign Ronaldo. Ronaldo’s commitment to Manchester United had come under constant question, and speculation swirled that he wanted to play elsewhere, so nobody was all that surprised to see Ronaldo leave.

"I know that they are going to demand a lot of me to be successful at the club and I know that I'm going to have much more pressure than at Manchester United because I was there for many years," Ronaldo told reporters. "But it means a new challenge and is going to help me be the best footballer."

Ronaldo went on to compile an impressive list of individual honors and team trophies. In December 2016, he won his fourth Ballon d'Or award as the sport's player of the year, beating out FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo’s 2016 wins included the European Championship, Champions League and Club World Cup, plus individual awards from UEFA and France Football magazine. The following year, he claimed a fifth Ballon d'Or to tie the mark held by his longtime rival, Messi.

Juventus

After dropping hints that his time with Real was coming to an end, Ronaldo confirmed the rumors in July 2018 by signing with Italian Serie A club Juventus, which paid a $140 million transfer fee to his old Spanish club.

Ronaldo paid tribute to Real fans in an open letter on the club's website, writing: "These years at Real Madrid and in this city of Madrid have quite possibly been the happiest years of my life. I only have feelings of great gratitude to this club, to the fans and to the city. I can only give thanks to all of them for the love and affection that I have received."

By most measures, Ronaldo's debut season with Juventus was a successful one. He scored 10 times in his first 14 games, and headed home the lone goal in a win over AC Milan for the Supercoppa Italiana trophy. After leading his club to its eighth consecutive Serie A title, he was named the league's MVP in May 2019.

Return to Manchester United

On August 27, 2021, it was announced that Ronaldo would return to Manchester United.

Portugal National Team

On July 10, 2016, Ronaldo added an emotional victory to his collection. As his national team's captain, Ronaldo led Portugal to the European Championship final against France.

Although he was sidelined after suffering a knee injury 25 minutes into the match, Portugal went on to win the championship title 1-0, their first international trophy. Ronaldo's teammates said that he motivated them as team captain from the sidelines.

"He gave us a lot of confidence and he said, 'Listen people, I'm sure we will win this Euro so stay together and fight for it,’” fullback Cedric Soares said after Portugal’s victory.

"This is one of the happiest moments in my career,” Ronaldo commented. ”I’ve always said I wanted to win a trophy with the national team and make history. And I did it. Thank God, things went well for us."

Ronaldo got off to a tremendous start at the 2018 World Cup, blasting home three goals in an opening draw vs. Spain, before adding another vs. Morocco to set a European record with his 85th international goal.

However, he was held scoreless in a 2-1 loss to Uruguay in the knockout stage, after which he declined to comment on his future with the national team.

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Personal Life

Ronaldo is dating the Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez; the couple was first seen together publicly around November 2016.

In June 2017, the couple welcomed twins, a boy and a girl, via a surrogate. In November 2017, Rodriguez added to their family with the birth of another girl.

Ronaldo’s first child, Cristiano Jr., was born to a former girlfriend in June 2010.

Statue at the Madeira Airport

In March 2017, self-taught sculptor Emanuel Santos unveiled a bronze bust of Ronaldo at the airport in Ronaldo’s hometown of Madeira, Portugal. The statue was ridiculed for its sinister smile and apparent lack of likeness to its subject, though Santos didn't seem to understand the uproar.

"I asked [Ronaldo] what he thought of the result and he said he liked it," said Santos. "He only asked for some wrinkles that give him a certain expression to his face when he laughs to be changed. He said it made him look older and asked for it to be thinned out a bit to make it smoother and more jovial."

In the wake of the negative publicity, the sports site Bleacher Report commissioned Santos to fashion another sculpture of Ronaldo. This one, unveiled in March 2018, earned praise for more closely resembling the soccer great, though its creator continued to defend his original work.

"I liked the result [of the first bust] and was really proud of it," he told Bleacher Report. "And if I had to do it again, I would make everything exactly the same."

Sexual Assault Investigation

In 2018, police in Las Vegas, Nevada, reopened a 9-year old investigation into claims that Ronaldo had raped a woman in his hotel room. The accuser also filed a civil lawsuit against the star athlete.

The following summer, the district attorney for Clark County, Nevada, announced that he had reviewed the case and would not be pursuing criminal charges against Ronaldo.

  • Name: Ronaldo
  • Birth Year: 1985
  • Birth date: February 5, 1985
  • Birth City: Funchal, Madeira
  • Birth Country: Portugal
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Cristiano Ronaldo is a professional soccer player who has set records while playing for the Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus clubs, as well as the Portuguese national team.
  • Industries
    • Sports
  • Astrological Sign: Aquarius
  • Nacionalities
    • Portuguese
  • Interesting Facts
    • When Cristiano Ronaldo was just 16 years old, Manchester United paid more than £12 million to sign him — a record fee for a player of his age.

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us!


  • Article Title: Cristiano Ronaldo Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/cristiano-ronaldo
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: August 31, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014
  • Many people look at me and think they know me, but they don't at all.
  • My father always taught me that when you help other people, then God will give you double.
  • Listen, I'm not going to change the world. You're not going to change the world. But we can help, we can all help.
  • When I was younger I couldn't understand the meaning of true friendship. Now I have more experience and I know who loves me without wanting anything.
  • It means a new challenge and is going to help me be the best footballer."[On leaving Manchester United to play for Real Madrid.]
  • I want to win all the trophies possible!
  • I don't like to do things by halves. It has to be done well.
  • Either you like me or not. There is nothing in between.
  • I look at the ball, I look at the net and I say to myself, 'Take the kick, Ronaldo,' then I shoot.
  • The goals I have scored are a consequence of the confidence I have.
  • I keep to my word, my promise and dreams. I'll never close any door to any club.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Team, Kids & Facts (2024)

FAQs

What are some facts about Ronaldo for kids? ›

Amazing facts about Ronaldo for children

In 2009, Real Madrid paid $131 million to sign him to their team. He has won FIFA's best player of the year award five times. In 2016, he captained his national team, Portugal to victory in the European Championships. He is an ambassador for Save the Children.

How many teams has Ronaldo played for? ›

Cristiano Ronaldo
Personal information
2003–2009Manchester United(84)
2009–2018Real Madrid(311)
2018–2021Juventus(81)
2021–2022Manchester United(19)
28 more rows

What football team did Ronaldo support as a kid? ›

The Manchester United forward was born on the island of Madeira in 1985 and played for local clubs Andorinha and Nacional as a child. At that time, Ronaldo supported Benfica, who are the most-decorated team in Portugal and share a rivalry with fellow 'Big Three' clubs Porto and Sporting Lisbon.

What are 10 facts about Ronaldo? ›

  • Named after US president. Cristiano Ronaldo was named after former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. ...
  • Ronaldo's father was a kitman in his first club. ...
  • Real Madrid paid a world record transfer fee for Ronaldo. ...
  • Getty. ...
  • A successful businessman. ...
  • A museum dedicated to Ronaldo. ...
  • A galaxy named after Ronaldo. ...
  • GettyImages.
Feb 10, 2023

What happened when Ronaldo was 15 years old? ›

It is hard to imagine a footballing world without Cristiano Ronaldo, but when he was just 15-years-old, premature retirement was a very real possibility. Ronaldo was diagnosed with Tachycardia, which meant his heart would beat irregularly and, even when resting, would be racing.

What team is Ronaldo on 2024? ›

Euro 2024 bid

Ronaldo will be an integral part of Portugal's team in its quest to win the European Championship again, previously winning it in 2016. Portugal will begin its campaign against the Czech Republic on June 19 at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.

Will Ronaldo play 2026 World Cup? ›

The next World Cup may be three years away, but Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly plans to take part in the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. He has apparently told Al Nassr that he'd like to extend his contract with the club until at least the beginning of 2027, when he is expected to hang up his boots.

What team is Ronaldo most known for? ›

An instant sensation, Ronaldo came to be regarded as one of football's best forwards. His finest season with United came in 2007–08, when he scored 42 League and Cup goals and earned the Golden Shoe award as Europe's leading scorer, with 31 League goals. He is the all-time leading scorer for Spain's Real Madrid.

Is Ronaldo a billionaire? ›

Per Forbes, Ronaldo became the first professional athlete ever to surpass the billion-dollar threshold just in career earnings in 2020, as his net worth is around $500 million according to some estimations that include wages, endorsement deals, real estate, and advertisements.

What made Ronaldo famous? ›

What was Cristiano Ronaldo best known for? An instant sensation, Ronaldo came to be regarded as one of football's best forwards. His finest season with United came in 2007–08, when he scored 42 League and Cup goals and earned the Golden Shoe award as Europe's leading scorer, with 31 League goals.

Why is Ronaldo so famous? ›

He's won five Ballons d'Or, five Champions Leagues, seven domestic league titles and is one of the greatest players in the history of the game. For a nation of just 10 million people, he is essentially a demigod. Now, however, Ronaldo has, in club football least, been reduced to a mortal.

Is Ronaldo's son Messi fan? ›

Cristiano Ronaldo: "My son is a Messi fan. And I am a Messi fan too. “

Who is Ronaldo's son Favourite player? ›

Is a Fan of Lionel Messi's.

How fast does Ronaldo run? ›

The pair were asked to each run 25metres with Rodriguez going first and putting up a time of 3.31 seconds. Ronaldo followed and got 3.61 seconds over the same distance. The Spanish sprinter said: "I took three tenths from him [Ronaldo], which is quite a lot. If it was 100 metres, he may be able to get 11.60 [seconds]."

How high can Ronaldo jump? ›

Ronaldo highest recorded jump is 115.3in, which considering his height means. Ronaldo vertical jump is almost 41.7in.

Has Ronaldo won a World Cup? ›

Cristiano Ronaldo has never won a FIFA World Cup.

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