Widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players in history, he first gained international recognition after joining Real Madrid as a forward, following a record-breaking $131.6 million transfer from Manchester United back in 2009. Before that move, he had already begun making waves in the football world. In 2008, he not only became the captain of the Portuguese national team but also took home the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy—an achievement he would repeat in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
His journey then took him to Juventus in 2018, where he continued to showcase his incredible talent. Later, in 2021, he made a high-profile return to Manchester United, a chapter that lasted until 2022, when he made the move to Al-Nassr FC.
Before all the fame and accolades, he was simply known as Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro. Interestingly, his name Ronaldo was chosen in honor of Ronald Reagan, who happened to be his father’s favorite actor. From a young age, he showed immense promise, starting his youth career with the Portugal under-15 team in 2001.
Growing up, he was part of a close-knit family, raised alongside his older brother Hugo and two sisters, Katia and Elma. On the personal front, he was in a long-term relationship with Russian model Irina Shayk from 2010 to 2015. He became a father for the first time in July 2010 with the birth of his son, Cristiano Jr. In June 2017, he and his partner at the time welcomed twins, Eva and Mateo, through surrogacy.
Later, he began a relationship with Georgina Rodriguez, and together they welcomed their first child, Alana Martina, on November 12, 2017. The couple shared joyful news again in October 2021 when they announced they were expecting twins. In April 2022, they joyfully revealed the arrival of their daughter and son. Tragically, just a few days later, on April 18, 2022, they announced the heartbreaking loss of their newborn son.
He truly made history throughout his incredible career, breaking numerous La Liga records along with several Real Madrid franchise milestones. In January 2013, he reached a remarkable milestone by scoring his 300th career goal—a moment that solidified his legacy even further. Over the years, he became not just a sports icon but a global phenomenon, amassing an astonishing following on social media. He is now the most-followed individual on Instagram, with over 641 million followers hanging onto his every post. And in 2022, he etched his name into the record books once again by becoming the first man ever to score in five different World Cups. His impact on the game, both on and off the field, continues to inspire millions around the world.