Cristiano Ronaldo facts for kids
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Ronaldo with Al-Nassr in 2023
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 5 February 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Al-Nassr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1995 | Andorinha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | Nacional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2002 | Sporting CP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Sporting CP B | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Sporting CP | 25 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2009 | Manchester United | 196 | (84) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2018 | Real Madrid | 292 | (311) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2021 | Juventus | 98 | (81) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Manchester United | 40 | (19) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Al-Nassr | 77 | (74) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Portugal U15 | 9 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Portugal U17 | 7 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Portugal U20 | 5 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Portugal U21 | 10 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Portugal U23 | 3 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003– | Portugal | 221 | (138) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:40, 26 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:45, 8 June 2025 (UTC) |
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Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro is a famous Portuguese professional footballer (soccer player). Many people believe he is one of the greatest players of all time. He plays as a forward for the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr and is the captain of the Portugal national team. He is often called by his nickname, CR7.
Ronaldo has won many awards, including five Ballon d'Or awards, which are given to the world's best player. He has also won over 30 major trophies with his teams. These include the UEFA Champions League five times and the UEFA European Championship with Portugal. He has scored over 900 goals in his career for his clubs and country, which is more than any other male player in history.
Contents
Early Life
Cristiano Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, a Portuguese island. He is the youngest of four children. He grew up in a Catholic home and shared a room with his brother and sisters.
From a young age, Ronaldo loved football. He played for a local team called Andorinha, where his father was the kit man (the person who takes care of the team's uniforms). Later, he played for another local club, Nacional.
At age 12, he had a three-day trial with a big club, Sporting CP, and they signed him. He moved from his home in Madeira to Lisbon to join Sporting's youth academy. At 14, he and his mother agreed that he should stop his regular schooling to focus completely on becoming a professional footballer.
When he was 15, doctors found he had a condition that made his heart beat too fast. This could have stopped him from playing football. He had a successful heart surgery and was back to training just a few days later.
Club Career
Sporting CP
Ronaldo started his professional career with Sporting CP in Portugal. He was so good that he was promoted to the first team when he was only 17. He played his first official match in a UEFA Champions League qualifier. After a great performance in a friendly match against Manchester United in 2003, their manager, Alex Ferguson, decided he had to sign him.
Manchester United
Ronaldo joined Manchester United in 2003 when he was 18. He was given the famous number 7 shirt, which had been worn by other great players like George Best and David Beckham. This motivated him to work even harder.
At first, he was known for his fancy dribbling and tricks. But he quickly developed into one of the best players in the world. He helped United win three Premier League titles in a row, the FA Cup, and the Champions League in 2008. In the 2007-08 season, he scored 42 goals. This amazing season earned him his first Ballon d'Or award.
Real Madrid
In 2009, Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid in Spain for a world-record transfer fee of £80 million. Over 80,000 fans came to the stadium just to see him presented as a new player.
At Real Madrid, Ronaldo became a goal-scoring machine. He became the club's all-time top scorer, with an incredible 450 goals in 438 games. He formed a famous attacking trio with Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, known as the "BBC".
He helped Real Madrid win the Champions League four times, including three in a row from 2016 to 2018. He also won two La Liga titles. During his time at Madrid, he won four more Ballon d'Or awards, making it five in total.
Juventus
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In 2018, Ronaldo decided he wanted a new challenge and joined Juventus in Italy. He helped them win two Serie A (the Italian league) titles. This made him one of the few players to win league championships in England, Spain, and Italy. He also scored over 100 goals for the club.
Return to Manchester United
In 2021, Ronaldo made a surprise return to his old club, Manchester United. Fans were very excited to have him back. He scored many important goals, including two in his first game back. However, the team did not win any trophies that season. In November 2022, Ronaldo and the club mutually agreed to end his contract.
Al-Nassr
On December 30, 2022, Ronaldo joined the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. He has continued to score many goals and break records. In 2024, he became the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League, making him the first player ever to be the top scorer in four different countries' top leagues.
International Career
Ronaldo has played for the Portugal national team since he was 18 years old. He is the team's captain and has played more international games and scored more international goals than any other male player in history.
He has played in many major tournaments, including five FIFA World Cups and six UEFA European Championships. His biggest achievement with Portugal was winning UEFA Euro 2016. In the final match against France, he got injured and had to leave the field early, but he cheered on his team from the sidelines as they won their first-ever major trophy.
He also helped Portugal win the first-ever UEFA Nations League in 2019 and again in 2025. He continues to be a key player for his country.
How He Plays
Style of Play
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Ronaldo is a very skilled and powerful attacker. He can play on either side of the field or in the middle. He is known for his incredible speed, strength, and jumping ability. He is famous for his powerful shots and his skill at scoring goals with his head. In fact, he has one of the highest recorded jumps in football history.
Early in his career, he was a tricky winger who loved to dribble past defenders with his step-over moves. As he got older, he changed his style to become more of a pure goalscorer. He is known for being in the right place at the right time to score.
Famous Celebration
Ronaldo is famous for his "Siuuu" celebration. After scoring a goal, he often runs to the corner, jumps high, turns in the air, and lands with his arms stretched out. As he does this, he shouts "Sí!" (which means "yes" in Spanish and Portuguese). Fans and other players all over the world often copy his celebration.
Rivalry with Lionel Messi
For over a decade, Ronaldo had a famous rivalry with another of the game's greatest players, Lionel Messi. They played for rival clubs in Spain (Real Madrid and Barcelona) and often competed for the same awards, like the Ballon d'Or.
Many fans and experts have debated which of the two is the best player. Both players have said that their rivalry pushed them to work harder and become even better. They have shown great respect for each other over the years.
Personal Life
Ronaldo has five children. His oldest son, Cristiano Jr., was born in 2010 and also plays football. He also has twins, a boy and a girl, and two daughters with his partner, Georgina Rodríguez.
Ronaldo's father passed away in 2005 when Ronaldo was 20. Ronaldo is known for his healthy lifestyle. He does not have any tattoos because he regularly donates blood.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sporting CP B | 2002–03 | Segunda Divisão B | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Sporting CP | 2002–03 | Primeira Liga | 25 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 5 | |
| Manchester United | 2003–04 | Premier League | 29 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 6 |
| 2004–05 | Premier League | 33 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 9 | |
| 2005–06 | Premier League | 33 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 | — | 47 | 12 | ||
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 34 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | — | 53 | 23 | ||
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 34 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 42 | |
| 2008–09 | Premier League | 33 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 53 | 26 | |
| Total | 196 | 84 | 26 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 55 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 292 | 118 | ||
| Real Madrid | 2009–10 | La Liga | 29 | 26 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 7 | — | 35 | 33 | ||
| 2010–11 | La Liga | 34 | 40 | 8 | 7 | — | 12 | 6 | — | 54 | 53 | |||
| 2011–12 | La Liga | 38 | 46 | 5 | 3 | — | 10 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 55 | 60 | ||
| 2012–13 | La Liga | 34 | 34 | 7 | 7 | — | 12 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 55 | 55 | ||
| 2013–14 | La Liga | 30 | 31 | 6 | 3 | — | 11 | 17 | — | 47 | 51 | |||
| 2014–15 | La Liga | 35 | 48 | 2 | 1 | — | 12 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 54 | 61 | ||
| 2015–16 | La Liga | 36 | 35 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 16 | — | 48 | 51 | |||
| 2016–17 | La Liga | 29 | 25 | 2 | 1 | — | 13 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 46 | 42 | ||
| 2017–18 | La Liga | 27 | 26 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 44 | 44 | ||
| Total | 292 | 311 | 30 | 22 | — | 101 | 105 | 15 | 12 | 438 | 450 | |||
| Juventus | 2018–19 | Serie A | 31 | 21 | 2 | 0 | — | 9 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 28 | |
| 2019–20 | Serie A | 33 | 31 | 4 | 2 | — | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 37 | ||
| 2020–21 | Serie A | 33 | 29 | 4 | 2 | — | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 36 | ||
| 2021–22 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 98 | 81 | 10 | 4 | — | 23 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 134 | 101 | |||
| Manchester United | 2021–22 | Premier League | 30 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | — | 38 | 24 | |
| 2022–23 | Premier League | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | — | 16 | 3 | ||
| Total | 40 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 8 | — | 54 | 27 | |||
| Al-Nassr | 2022–23 | Saudi Pro League | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 19 | 14 | ||
| 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 31 | 35 | 4 | 3 | — | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 51 | 50 | ||
| 2024–25 | Saudi Pro League | 30 | 25 | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 35 | ||
| Total | 77 | 74 | 7 | 3 | — | 17 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 111 | 99 | |||
| Career total | 730 | 572 | 77 | 44 | 12 | 4 | 212 | 157 | 31 | 23 | 1062 | 800 | ||
International
| Team | Year | Competitive | Friendly | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Portugal U15 | 2001 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 7 |
| Portugal U17 | 2001 | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 4 | 3 | — | 4 | 3 | ||
| Total | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5 | |
| Portugal U20 | 2003 | — | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| Portugal U21 | 2002 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |
| Total | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 3 | |
| Portugal U23 | 2004 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Portugal | 2003 | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 7 | |
| 2005 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2006 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 6 | |
| 2007 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 5 | |
| 2008 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2011 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | |
| 2012 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 5 | |
| 2013 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 10 | |
| 2014 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 5 | |
| 2015 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | |
| 2016 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 13 | |
| 2017 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 11 | |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | |
| 2019 | 10 | 14 | — | 10 | 14 | ||
| 2020 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 13 | |
| 2022 | 12 | 3 | — | 12 | 3 | ||
| 2023 | 9 | 10 | — | 9 | 10 | ||
| 2024 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 7 | |
| 2025 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | |
| Total | 167 | 116 | 54 | 22 | 221 | 138 | |
| Career total | 182 | 123 | 73 | 33 | 255 | 156 | |
Notes
Honours
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Sporting CP
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2002
Manchester United
- Premier League: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
- FA Cup: 2003–04
- Football League Cup: 2005–06, 2008–09
- FA Community Shield: 2007
- UEFA Champions League: 2007–08
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
Real Madrid
- La Liga: 2011–12, 2016–17
- Copa del Rey: 2010–11, 2013–14
- Supercopa de España: 2012, 2017
- UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
- UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2017
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017
Juventus
- Serie A: 2018–19, 2019–20
- Coppa Italia: 2020–21
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2018, 2020
Al-Nassr
- Arab Club Champions Cup: 2023
Portugal
- UEFA European Championship: 2016
- UEFA Nations League: 2018–19, 2024–25
Individual
- Ballon d'Or/FIFA Ballon d'Or: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 2008
- The Best FIFA Men's Player: 2016, 2017
- The Best FIFA Special Award for Outstanding Career Achievement: 2021
- UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2007–08
- UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17
- The Best Special Award of UEFA Champions League All-Time Top Scorer: 2024
- European Golden Shoe: 2007–08, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15
- FIFA Puskás Award: 2009
- FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2016
- UEFA European Championship Golden Boot: 2020
- UEFA Nations League Finals Top Scorer: 2019, 2025 (shared)
- UEFA Champions League top scorer: 2007–08, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
- Premier League Player of the Season: 2006–07, 2007–08
- La Liga Best Player: 2013–14
- Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2019, 2020
- Premier League Golden Boot: 2007–08
- Pichichi Trophy: 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15
- Capocannoniere: 2020–21
- Saudi Pro League Golden Boot: 2023–24, 2024–25
- Golden Foot: 2020
- Ballon d'Or Dream Team: 2020
- FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Portuguese Sportsman of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- FPF Portuguese Player of the Year: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Orders
Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (Portuguese Royal Family)
Grand officer of the Order of Prince Henry
Commander of the Order of Merit
Cordão da Insígnia autonómica de distinção (Collar of the Autonomic Insignia of Distinction, Autonomous Region of Madeira)
See also
In Spanish: Cristiano Ronaldo para niños
