Cristiano Ronaldo

From Madeira to Manchester

Early Career

Funchal, the capital of Madeira, saw the birth of Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro on February 5, 1985. Growing up in the parish of Santo António, he first drew the attention of local club Nacional while playing for Andorinha, for which his father was an equipment manager (kit man). When he turned 12, Ronaldo went on trial with Lisbon-based Sporting CP and joined their youth department.

His true breakthrough arrived in 2003 when, during a preseason friendly in which Sporting hosted Manchester United for their new stadium's inauguration, the teenager caught the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson. The head coach of Manchester United at the time saw great potential in the young player. 

Within less than a week, a £12 million deal was signed (a record for a teenage footballer), and the 17-year-old was off to join his new teammates at the storied Old Trafford/ Thus began his journey to global superstardom.

Triumph at Manchester United

Ronaldo’s first months at Old Trafford were far from smooth. The teenage winger needed time to adapt to the Premier League’s ruthless pace and demands. 

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, pundits were calling the Portuguese talent out as a showboat, with a style that they predicted would vanish against the seasoned defenders of the league at the time, such as Arsenal’s Ashley Cole. Ronaldo even went on the record to say that Cole was one of the toughest players he had ever faced.

Sir Alex Ferguson never doubted his student, though, and spent much time refining his protégé’s flair, reinforcing discipline, and sharpening his natural instincts and vision for the ball. 

The gamble paid off big time: from 2007 to 2009, Ronaldo — by then known to the world as CR7 — dominated opponents and led United to three straight league titles. Most will point to the 2007-08 season as his true debut — 42 goals, a Champions League crown in Moscow, and his first Ballon d’Or.

The Galáctico Years at the Bernabéu

A Record-Breaking Arrival

The summer of 2009 saw Cristiano Ronaldo shatter the world transfer record with his €94 million Real Madrid transfer. The pressure at the Santiago Bernabéu was instant and immense. English football, which demands great physical shape, is very different from the tactically oriented nature of La Liga. Once again, he had to adapt, which he did quite successfully.

His initial partnership with fellow midfielder Kaká showed quite a few flashes of brilliance, but it was the arrival of Karim Benzema that created lasting chemistry. This partnership evolved into a legendary force in 2013 with the addition of Gareth Bale, forming the so-called 'BBC trio'.

Yet, it was within the crucible of El Clásico that Ronaldo’s legacy was most fiercely defined. These matches became a personal battleground due to the 'Messi rivalry', which pushed both him and his contemporary, Lionel Messi, to near-supernatural levels of performance in every face-off. The duel became a global cultural phenomenon that divided fans in the eternal 'GOAT' debate.

European Glory and Record Breaking

Los Blancos claimed four Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018, with CR7 starring in each triumph. His ability to score in crucial moments earned him the nickname 'Mr. Champions League', eventually becoming UEFA’s all-time top scorer with 140 goals.

This era was full of iconic moments to the point where even opposing fans couldn’t help but applaud his spectacular overhead kick against Juventus in 2018. And in final performances where pressure was at its peak, Ronaldo consistently delivered, be it against Atlético Madrid during the 2014 final, or making the decisive penalty kick in the 2016 shootout.

The three consecutive European titles from 2016 to 2018 established Madrid’s football team as we know it today. The footballer’s individual records during this period were just as impactful. 

These records included the most goals in a single Champions League campaign, being the fastest to reach 100 European goals, and becoming one of the oldest players to score a hat-trick in the competition. Part of his charm was his ability to deliver season after season and at the highest level.

Life Beyond Football

The Ronaldo Family

Since 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo's life has been intimately shared with his other half, Georgina Rodríguez. Their public relationship saw Georgina evolve from a simple retail assistant into a prominent model and influencer. And right at the heart of their world are their five children: Cristiano Jr., twins Eva and Mateo, Alana Martina, and Bella Esmeralda.

Georgina's career unsurprisingly took off alongside their relationship. And now, in addition to being widely known as Cristiano Ronaldo’s wife, she has become the face of many major fashion campaigns, including Guess, Chopard, and PrettyLittleThing. She also starred in her own Netflix documentary, 'I Am Georgina', released in 2022, which gave a glimpse into their life/ The series showcased her journey and the interesting inner dynamics of the family. 

The most vital role of Cristiano Ronaldo’s wife, however, may be off-camera: according to the man himself, she’s the household’s anchor — the one managing schedules and cultivating a stable work-life balance for all of the family’s members, who are constantly hounded by paparazzi.

Despite the immense demands of his career, Ronaldo's dedication to his family is unmistakable. His social media is filled with candid moments with his children. Moreover, he’s never been shy about giving credit to Georgina for establishing a supportive and nurturing home despite the unique challenge that fame has posed to them.

Building a Business Empire

Ronaldo owns a clothing line that combines sportswear with streetwear aesthetics. Fragrances bearing his name sell millions of bottles annually across continents. Pestana CR7 hotels in Lisbon, Madrid, and Marrakesh offer luxury accommodations that reflect his personal taste and style.

His Nike partnership, worth over $1 billion lifetime, represents one of sport's most lucrative endorsements. It’s a deal that’s rivaled only by Michael Jordan’s agreement. And, with more than 600 million Instagram followers, companies know full well the value of his social media influence. A single post endorsing a brand can return millions of dollars.

The sporting legend’s business empire also diversifies across fitness centers under the CR7 Fitness by Crunch brand, his underwear line, and, surprisingly, the Insparya hair transplant clinic chain. You might think all this is odd for a footballer, but the professional sports industry has seen many great athletes fall into financial ruin after their playing days end. His brand diversification strategy is a shrewd move that demonstrates his strong business acumen. 

The Saudi Chapter

From Europe to Arabia

In December 2022, the football world was shocked when Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr, a Saudi Arabian professional football club, on a contract reportedly worth €200 million annually. The record contract dwarfed previous salary benchmarks by a huge margin, making him the highest-paid footballer ever — almost twice as much as Lionel Messi, who was estimated to earn around €111 million per year at the time.

Once again, Ronaldo had to undergo an adaptation period to adapt to the play style of the Saudi Pro League. There were all sorts of challenges, from different competition levels to contrastingclimates, and even a huge cultural shift from the many European stadiums and teams he had played in before.

Yet the forward's goal-scoring records continued accumulating. Age, as it turned out, had not diminished his finishing ability all that much. The news of Ronaldo’s transfer alone boosted the global profile of both the club and the league dramatically. Al-Nassr’s social media accounts, for instance, soared to surpass all Premier League clubs, short of the league’s Big Six — almost overnight.

That was the plan all along: from a league and club that were once almost unknown outside of the Middle East, Al-Nassr and the Saudi Pro League are now garnering attention from media, fans, and star players around the world.

Still, the transfer wasn’t without its controversies. Immediately after the deal was announced, there were huge debates about sporting ambitions versus financial rewards. Some viewed it as CR7’s premature retirement from elite European competition, while others said he’s acting as an 'ambassador' or a 'pioneer' to globalize football. Whatever the case, one thing’s clear: it’s the next great step in the footballer’s career.

Portugal's Captain and Icon

Cristiano Ronaldo has been a prominent name in the Portugal national team for over two decades. Altogether, he has earned more than 200 caps and scored over 130 goals in his 22-year international career, serving as Portugal’s long-time captain since 2008. To put it simply, his captaincy has reshaped the way people think of Portugal's football team today. 

During the Euro 2016 final, he was injured early in the match and unfortunately had to leave the pitch. Fans and commentators were concerned about how the team would perform without him actively playing. Ronaldo still managed to help guide his team from the sidelines to beat France. 

Then came the 2019 UEFA Nations League, where he put another major title under his team’s belt. Today, Portugal’s team is made up primarily of 27-30-year-old players, and they continue to prove that the 40-year-old captain can still be a crucial part of the team. His skill and leadership shone through once again during Portugal’s triumph in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League.

The World Cup campaigns went a little differently. The team didn’t win once after taking part in five tournaments from 2006 to 2022. It has remained the captain’s ultimate aspiration to lift the trophy himself, especially after seeing his long-time rival, Lionel Messi, do so in 2022.

Nevertheless, outside of giving Portugal a name on the world stage and an international legacy, Ronaldo’s captaincy for the team has had a different impact: his influence on an entire generation of Portuguese talent. Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and João Félix — all star players from Portugal — have admitted they grew up idolizing him as they watched the football legend beat Europe's most elite competitions. 

Ronaldo fundamentally changed Portuguese football's mentality. Young players now believe they can compete with any nation, regardless of size or reputation. This confidence, built through his sustained excellence, may outlast even his remarkable statistics.

Ronaldo’s Legacy and Football’s Greatest Debate

With 5 Ballon d'Or awards, 34 major trophies, and over 900 career goals, Cristiano Ronaldo has earned his place among football's greatest legends. The GOAT debate with Lionel Messi has been a major talking point for years and will likely continue for eternity. 

Messi fans speak about his genius and flow on the pitch, whereas Ronaldo fans bring up his unmatched dedication to self-improvement and physical mastery. Both of their career paths tell very distinct stories, and the Ronaldo vs. Messi comparison is a difficult argument to win. 

CR7 changed athlete branding in the social media age, single-handedly, with his remarkable cultural impact. He showed that footballers could be world-class athletes on the pitch as well as entrepreneurs and cultural icons. 

The football legacy he leaves behind will influence generations, and this influence is already visible among today’s younger players.