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Cristiano Ronaldo

Footballer · Forward

b. 1985 · Born in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal · 3 min read

  • Verified: 13 November 2026
  • Sources: 4
  • Independently reviewed
Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal in 2018
Photo: Анна Нэсси / Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0

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.

  • 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

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.

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

  1. 5 February 1985

    Born Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
  2. 2002

    Made his senior debut for Sporting CP in Lisbon, aged 17

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia
  3. 2003

    Joined Manchester United; made his senior debut for Portugal

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
  4. 2008

    Won the UEFA Champions League with Manchester United and his first Ballon d'Or

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNN
  5. 2009

    Joined Real Madrid for what was then a world-record transfer fee

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
  6. 2016

    Captained Portugal to victory at UEFA Euro 2016

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNN
  7. 2018

    Joined Juventus after nine seasons at Real Madrid

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
  8. 2019

    Won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia
  9. 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
  10. 2022

    Became the first player to score at five World Cups

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: CNN; Encyclopaedia Britannica
  11. 2023-01

    Joined Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia

    Approximate date Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; CNN
  12. 5 September 2024

    Became the first man to score 900 career goals in official matches, against Croatia in Lisbon

    Source: CNN; Encyclopaedia Britannica
  13. 2025

    Won a second UEFA Nations League title with Portugal

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: Wikipedia

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Cristiano Ronaldo?

Cristiano Ronaldo was born on 5 February 1985 in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, so Ronaldo is 41 years old as of November 2026. Ronaldo's age changes every year on 5 February. He has won five Ballon d'Or awards and is the all-time top scorer in men's international football.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica

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 Britannica

How many Ballon d'Or awards has Cristiano Ronaldo won?

Five: in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. He won his first with Manchester United in 2008 and the other four with Real Madrid, and he is the all-time top scorer in men's international football, a record he has held since September 2021.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica ; CNN

What 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 ; CNN

Which clubs has Cristiano Ronaldo played for?

He played for Sporting CP (2002–2003), Manchester United (2003–2009 and 2021–2022), Real Madrid (2009–2018) and Juventus (2018–2021), before joining Al Nassr in January 2023. At Real Madrid he scored 450 goals in 438 appearances, becoming the club's all-time top scorer.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica ; CNN

When did Cristiano Ronaldo reach 900 career goals?

He scored his 900th career goal on 5 September 2024, in Portugal's 2–1 UEFA Nations League win over Croatia. He is also the all-time top scorer in men's international football, a record he has held since September 2021, and the top scorer in UEFA Champions League history with 140 goals.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica ; CNN

Sources & References

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo — Encyclopaedia Britannica — Encyclopaedia Britannica (accessed 12 November 2026)
  2. Cristiano Ronaldo — Wikipedia (cross-check) — Wikipedia (accessed 12 November 2026)
  3. Cristiano Ronaldo Fast Facts — CNN — CNN (accessed 12 November 2026)
  4. File:Cristiano Ronaldo 2018.jpg — Wikimedia Commons (portrait file page) — Wikimedia Commons (accessed 12 November 2026)

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Written by Abdul Hannan. Independently reviewed before publication. First published 12 November 2026; last verified 13 November 2026.

Birth date: 5 February 1985 · Date precision: exact.