Cristiano Ronaldo: From Humble Beginnings to Football Icon
Cristiano Ronaldo is often considered one of the greatest football (soccer) players of all time. Born in 1985 in Portugal, Ronaldo began playing professionally at age 18 for Sporting CP before signing with Manchester United in 2003. During his 6 seasons with Man United, Ronaldo won 3 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cups, and the UEFA Champions League in 2008, where he scored the winning goal in the final.
In 2009, Ronaldo made a record-breaking transfer to Real Madrid for £80 million. This launched his career into superstardom. At Real Madrid, Ronaldo won 2 La Liga titles, 2 Copa del Rey cups, and an astonishing 4 UEFA Champions League titles in 5 seasons. Individually, he won the Ballon d’Or award for best player in the world in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. He scored over 450 goals for Real Madrid, becoming their all-time leading goal scorer.
In 2018, Ronaldo transferred to Juventus in Italy’s Serie A for €100 million. In his first season, he led Juventus to a Serie A title and was named Serie A Player of the Year. To date, he has won league titles in England, Spain, and Italy – a feat unmatched by any other player.
For Portugal’s national team, Ronaldo led them to victory in the 2016 European Championships – their first major trophy. He also led them to the 2006 World Cup semi-finals as well as the 2018 World Cup round of 16. Ronaldo holds the record for most goals scored for Portugal with over 100.
Off the field, Ronaldo is one of the most famous and marketable athletes in the world. He has lucrative sponsorships with brands like Nike, Armani, and Herbalife. He has over 500 million followers across social media. While Ronaldo has faced some controversies over issues like tax evasion, he dedicates time and money to various philanthropic causes like disaster relief and child hunger.
Ronaldo grew up in poverty, sharing a room with his brother and three sisters. His father worked as an equipment manager at a boy’s club, which is where Ronaldo first started playing football. Diagnosed with a racing heart at age 15, Ronaldo underwent surgery which allowed him to turn professional. Through tireless work ethic and drive, he built himself into one of the fittest, fastest, and most skilled players of this generation.
