Without a doubt, Cristiano Ronaldo is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. Known for his goal-scoring prowess, elite in-game shape, and career longevity, Ronaldo has become a global football icon. He holds the record as the all-time leading goal scorer in men’s football, netting 938 goals across club and international competitions. The Portuguese superstar has also played in more major international tournaments than any other player in football history.
Despite winning multiple trophies with Portugal, Ronaldo has yet to lift the FIFA World Cup. As he approaches what could be his final campaign with the Seleção, will the 2026 World Cup be the year he finally wins it all? For now, let’s see what makes Ronaldo one of football’s GOAT (Greatest Of All Time).
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Cristiano Ronaldo Player Profile:
- Full Name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
- Date of Birth: February 5, 1985
- Place of Birth: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
- Height: 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
- Weight: 83 kg (183 lbs)
- Position: Forward
- Preferred Foot: Right
Club Information:
Current Club:
- Al Nassr (Saudi Pro League) – 2022-present
Previous Clubs:
- Sporting CP (Portugal) – 2002-2003
- Manchester United (Premier League) – 2003-2009; 2021-2022
- Real Madrid (LaLiga) – 2009-2018
- Juventus (Serie A) – 2018–2021
International Career
- National Team: Portugal
- Debut: August 20, 2003 vs Kazakhstan
- Caps: 221 (all-time men’s record)
- Goals: 138 (all-time men’s record)
- Captain Since: 2008
- Milestone: Most caps and goals in international football history.
For over two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo has been a cornerstone of the Portugal national team since making his debut in 2003.
With more than 220 international appearances and 138 goals, Ronaldo remains the most-capped and highest-scoring player in men’s international football, continuing to set records well into his 40s.
Major Tournaments Played:
- FIFA World Cup: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022
- UEFA Euro Championship: 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
- UEFA Nations League: 2018–19, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2024–25
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2017
Player Data
- Playing Style: Explosiveness, aerial ability, finishing, dribbling
- Attributes: Reliable penalty taker, leadership, longevity, explosive agility
Career Highlights
- 5× Ballon d’Or (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
- 4× European Golden Shoe winner
- Champions League Titles: 5 trophies (1× United, 4× Real Madrid)
- Domestic Leagues: 3x Premier League (2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09), 2x La Liga (2011-12, 2016-17), 2x Serie A (2018-19, 2019-20).
- International Titles: UEFA Euro 2016, UEFA Nations League 2019 & 2025
Statistics
Ronaldo became the first player in men’s football history to reach the 900-goal mark, with a total of 938 senior career goals for club and country combined. Let’s break down his statistics:
Club Appearances and Statistics:
| Club | Years | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sporting CP | 2002–2003 | 31 | 5 |
| Manchester United | 2003–2009 | 292 | 118 |
| Real Madrid | 2009–2018 | 438 | 450 |
| Juventus | 2018–2022 | 134 | 101 |
| Manchester United | 2021–2023 | 54 | 27 |
| Al Nassr | 2023–present | 111 | 99 |
| Total | 1,051 | 790 |
Country Appearances and Statistics
| Competition | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup Finals | 22 | 8 |
| UEFA Euro Finals | 29 | 14 |
| World Cup Qualifiers | 47 | 36 |
| Euro Qualifiers | 65 | 41 |
| UEFA Nations League | 30 | 14 |
| Confederations Cup | 4 | 2 |
| Friendlies | 24 | 22 |
| Total (All Matches) | 221 | 138 |
Fun Trivia:
- Ronaldo became the first male footballer to reach 1 billion social media followers (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube).
- He is the first footballer to reach US $1 billion in career earnings.
- Ronaldo has scored ten international hat-tricks, a record he shares with rival Lionel Messi.
- At 40 years old, Ronaldo holds several age-related records: he is the oldest player to score a hat-trick at a FIFA World Cup (2018 in Russia), the oldest player to score in a national team final (2025 UEFA Nations League), the oldest to reach 1,000 senior professional appearances, and the oldest player to lead a top European league in goals, earning the Golden Boot
- Ronaldo was diagnosed with a racing heart condition when he was 15 years old, which could have ended his career prematurely. However, he recovered successfully and continues to perform at a high level even at 40.
