Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro popularly called Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the finest football legend of our time.
Born on February 5, 1985, to a José Dinis Aveiro and Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, a Portuguese couple in Funchal, Madeira, he had a humble beginning growing up with three siblings.
Early Football Career And Achievements
He began playing football at age 8 with CF Andorinha, Joined Nacional da Madeira at age 10 and later moved to Sporting CP at age 12.
He made his professional debut with Sporting CP in 2002 and signed with Manchester United in 2003 for £12.24 million.
While with Manchester United, Ronaldo won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and one Champions League. He left the club for Real Madrid but returned in 2021.
In 2009, he made history when he got signed with Real Madrid for a then-world record £80 million.
There, he won two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, and four Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
He later signed with Juventus in 2018 for £100 million. At Juventus, he won two Serie A titles and one Supercoppa Italiana.
He rejoined Manchester United in August 2021, but his contract was terminated by mutual consent in November 2022.
The talented player later signed a mouth watery deal of $200 million per year with Al Nassr, a Saudi Pro League club in 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo also called CR7 has won several awards since joining Al Nassr in 2023. They include: Saudi Pro League Player of the Month, Arab Club Champions Cup Top Scorer and the Arab Club Champions Cup Winner.
The Goal Machine was also a star in his national team. He played in Portugal U-17 team from 2001 to 2002 in the U-20 team in 2003) and the senior national team from 2003.
He is expected to play a leading role for Portugal at Euro 2024, despite approaching 40 years of age. His goal is to reach 250 caps for Portugal, according to manager Roberto Martinez.
So far, he has represented Portugal in 5 European Championships and 4 World Cups. Also the European Championship (Euro 2016) and the UEFA Nations League.
Throughout his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and perseverance, cementing his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Individual Accolades
The legend also has to his credit several accolades which includes;
– Five-time Ballon d’Or winner (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017)
– Four-time UEFA Best Player in Europe
– Three-time UEFA Club Footballer of the Year
– All-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League
– All-time leading scorer in the UEFA European Championship
Net worth, Endorsement And Investments
The Phenom’s net worth is estimated to be around $800 million. He’s one of the highest-paid athletes globally, with an annual salary of $200 million. His massive earnings come from a combination of his salary, endorsements, and business ventures.
His endorsement deals are a significant contributor to his wealth, with partnerships with top brands like Nike, TAG Heuer, and Herbalife. His lifetime contract with Nike is reportedly worth $1 billion.
In addition to his endorsement deals, Ronaldo also earns a substantial income from his businesses, including his fashion boutique ‘CR7’ and his chain of hotels, Pestana CR7 .
As of 2024, Ronaldo’s net worth is estimated to be around £500 million, with an annual income of £173 million. His wealth is expected to continue growing as he remains one of the most marketable and successful athletes in the world.
Family Life
Cristiano Ronaldo has 5 children: Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. , Eva, Mateo, Alana Martina and Bella Esmeralda. He is not married but has been in a long-term relationship with Georgina Rodriguez since 2016.
Plans For The Future
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he is thinking of becoming a football club owner once he retires from playing and admitted: “That is something that makes more sense.”
Some of his targets include:
Playing in the 2026 World Cup—and winning it, a feat that would cement his international legacy.
Scoring 1,000 career goals—he currently stands at 923, and with his scoring rate, this once-unthinkable milestone is within reach.
Reaching 250 caps for Portugal—already the most-capped international player, he is on 217 and counting.
Sharing the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo Jr.—his 14-year-old son is progressing through Al-Nassr’s youth system, making a dream father-son moment a real possibility.
The Legend’s first game in his 40s will be on Friday in the Saudi Pro League at home against 13th-place Al Feiha.
