Cristiano Ronaldo
Footballer · Forward
b. 1985 · Born in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal · 3 min read
- Last verified: 12 November 2026
- Sources: 4
- Independently reviewed before publication
Portuguese footballer, five-time Ballon d'Or winner and the all-time top scorer in men's international football; the first man to reach 900 career goals in official matches, in September 2024.
Early Life
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on 5 February 1985 in Funchal, on the Portuguese island of Madeira, and grew up in the nearby parish of Santo António. He joined the academy of Sporting CP in Lisbon as a teenager and made his senior debut for the club in 2002, at the age of 17. Manchester United signed him in 2003, after a friendly match in which he played against them.
Career
Ronaldo began his senior career with Sporting CP in Lisbon, making his debut in 2002, and joined Manchester United in 2003. In six seasons at United he won three Premier League titles and the 2008 UEFA Champions League, and his first Ballon d'Or in 2008. In 2009 he joined Real Madrid for what was then a world-record transfer fee; in nine seasons he scored 450 goals in 438 appearances, becoming the club's all-time top scorer, and won four Champions League titles and two La Liga titles. He played for Juventus from 2018 to 2021, winning two Serie A titles, then returned to Manchester United in 2021 before joining Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia in January 2023. For Portugal, he made his senior debut in 2003 and captained the side to victory at Euro 2016 and to the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. In September 2021 he became the all-time top scorer in men's international football, passing Ali Daei's record of 109 goals, and in September 2024 he became the first man to reach 900 career goals in official matches. All career totals in this profile are stated as of November 2026; totals for a player still active change with every match, so the profile records dated milestones rather than a running total.
Achievements
Ronaldo has won five Ballon d'Or awards (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017) and four European Golden Shoes. He is the all-time top scorer in men's international football, a record he has held since September 2021, and the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, with 140 goals. In September 2024 he became the first man to score 900 career goals in official matches. He scored 450 goals in 438 appearances for Real Madrid, the club's all-time top scorer, and won five UEFA Champions League titles: in 2008 with Manchester United and in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 with Real Madrid. As captain he led Portugal to victory at UEFA Euro 2016 and to the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025. In 2022 he became the first player to score at five World Cups.
Legacy
Ronaldo is one of the most prolific goalscorers in the history of football and one of the sport's most recognised figures. His records include the most goals in men's international football, the most goals in the UEFA Champions League and the most goals for Real Madrid, and he is the first man to reach 900 career goals in official matches. His career across Portugal, England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia, and his longevity at the top level into his forties, are central to his standing in the sport. This profile records his statistics only, with dates, and makes no comparison with any other player.
Major Achievements
- Won five Ballon d'Or awards as the world's top male player (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
- Is the all-time top scorer in men's international football, a record he has held since September 2021
- Holds the record for most goals in the UEFA Champions League, with 140
- Became the first man to score 900 career goals in official matches, in September 2024
- Scored 450 goals in 438 appearances for Real Madrid, the club's all-time top scorer
- Won five UEFA Champions League titles, in 2008 with Manchester United and in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 with Real Madrid
- Captained Portugal to victory at UEFA Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025
- Was the first player to score at five World Cups, in 2022
Contributions
Ronaldo's contribution to football is goalscoring at a scale no player has matched: the most goals in men's international football, the most in the UEFA Champions League, the most for Real Madrid, and the first 900-goal career in official matches. As captain he led Portugal to its first major trophies, Euro 2016 and the Nations League.
Milestones
- 2002 — Made his senior debut for Sporting CP in Lisbon, aged 17 Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia
- 2003 — Joined Manchester United and made his senior debut for Portugal Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
- 2008 — Won the UEFA Champions League with Manchester United and his first Ballon d'Or Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNN
- 2009 — Joined Real Madrid for what was then a world-record transfer fee Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
- 2014 — Won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid for the first time Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
- 2016 — Captained Portugal to victory at UEFA Euro 2016; won the Champions League with Real Madrid again Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNN
- 2017 — Won a fifth Ballon d'Or Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNN
- 2018 — Joined Juventus after nine seasons at Real Madrid, where he scored 450 goals in 438 appearances Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
- 2019 — Won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia
- 2021 — Became the all-time top scorer in men's international football, passing Ali Daei's record of 109 goals Source: CNN; Encyclopaedia Britannica
- 2022 — Became the first player to score at five World Cups Source: CNN; Encyclopaedia Britannica
- 2023 — Joined Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNN
- 2024 — Became the first man to score 900 career goals in official matches Source: CNN; Encyclopaedia Britannica
- 2025 — Won a second UEFA Nations League title with Portugal Source: Wikipedia
Timeline
- 5 February 1985
Born Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica - 2002
Made his senior debut for Sporting CP in Lisbon, aged 17
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia - 2003
Joined Manchester United; made his senior debut for Portugal
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica - 2008
Won the UEFA Champions League with Manchester United and his first Ballon d'Or
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNN - 2009
Joined Real Madrid for what was then a world-record transfer fee
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica - 2016
Captained Portugal to victory at UEFA Euro 2016
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNN - 2018
Joined Juventus after nine seasons at Real Madrid
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica - 2019
Won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia - 2021-09
Became the all-time top scorer in men's international football, passing Ali Daei's record of 109 goals
Approximate date Source: CNN; Encyclopaedia Britannica - 2022
Became the first player to score at five World Cups
Year only — exact date unknown Source: CNN; Encyclopaedia Britannica - 2023-01
Joined Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia
Approximate date Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNN - 5 September 2024
Became the first man to score 900 career goals in official matches, against Croatia in Lisbon
Source: CNN; Encyclopaedia Britannica - 2025
Won a second UEFA Nations League title with Portugal
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Wikipedia
Related Personalities
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cristiano Ronaldo?
Cristiano Ronaldo (born 1985) is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a forward for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and captains the Portugal national team. He has won five Ballon d'Or awards and is the all-time top scorer in men's international football.
Source: Encyclopaedia BritannicaHow many Ballon d'Or awards has Cristiano Ronaldo won?
Five: in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNNWhat records does Cristiano Ronaldo hold?
He is the all-time top scorer in men's international football, a record he has held since September 2021; he holds the record for most goals in the UEFA Champions League (140); he is Real Madrid's all-time top scorer (450 goals); and in September 2024 he became the first man to score 900 career goals in official matches.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNNWhich clubs has Cristiano Ronaldo played for?
He played for Sporting CP in Portugal, Manchester United in England (2003–2009 and 2021–2022), Real Madrid in Spain (2009–2018), Juventus in Italy (2018–2021), and Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, which he joined in January 2023.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNNWhen did Cristiano Ronaldo reach 900 career goals?
In September 2024, during a UEFA Nations League match against Croatia in Lisbon, when he scored his 900th career goal in official matches for club and country.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNNSources & References
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Encyclopaedia Britannica — Encyclopaedia Britannica (accessed 12 November 2026)
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Wikipedia (cross-check) — Wikipedia (accessed 12 November 2026)
- Cristiano Ronaldo Fast Facts — CNN — CNN (accessed 12 November 2026)
- File:Cristiano Ronaldo 2018.jpg — Wikimedia Commons (portrait file page) — Wikimedia Commons (accessed 12 November 2026)
