This is a list of FASCINATING facts about Cristiano Ronaldo.
On this list you’ll learn about:
- The early life of Cristiano Ronaldo
- His records and stats
- His personal life
- And more
So if you’re looking for fun facts about Cristiano Ronaldo. you’re in the right place.
Early Life Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo
1. Cristiano Ronaldo is Named After a US President
Yes, you heard that right. Cristiano Ronaldo was named after the US President Ronald Reagan.
But what’s the connection between a Portuguese kid and the US President?
Ronaldo was born a month after Ronald Reagan began his second term as the president. And apparently, his parents were big fans of Reagan since his acting days.
So, Ronald became Ronaldo.
2. His Surname is Not Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo’s full name is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro.
So, according to the global naming standards, his surname is Santos Aveiro. Ronaldo is his middle name but he has always used it as the name on the back of his shirt.
3. Ronaldo’s Father Was a Kitman
Ronaldo’s father, José Dinis Aveiro, was a part-time kitman for the soccer club Andorinha.
He mainly worked as a municipal gardener at the Junta de Freguesia of Santo António.
Ronaldo also started his playing career at Andorinha when he was just 8 years old.
4. His Mother Worked Two Jobs to Support the Family
Ronaldo’s mother, Maria Dolores dos Santos Viveiros da Aveiro, worked as a cook and cleaning lady at hotels and restaurants.
She had to work two jobs to support the family and Ronaldo’s soccer dream.
5. Ronaldo is The Youngest of Four Siblings
Cristiano Ronaldo has one older brother, Hugo, and two older sisters, Elma and Liliana Cátia “Katia”.
6. His Older Sister is a Pop Star
Ronaldo’s older sister, Lilliana Cátia “Katia”, is a pop singer in Portugal. Her singing name is “Ronalda”, inspired by her brother Ronaldo.
Ronaldo also wrote a song with his sister – Vivo na Esperança de Te Ver. They wrote it to honor their father who died in 2005.
7. Ronaldo Could’ve Been Aborted
Yep. As sad as it is, Ronaldo might not have been born at all.
His mother wanted to get an abortion due to their poverty. She already had three children and didn’t want the burden of a fourth one.
Ronaldo’s father also had trouble with alcohol. So it’s easy to see why his mother wanted to take this decision.
Luckily, the doctor refused to do the procedure, and the rest is history.
8. Ronaldo Only Studied Till Grade 6
Cristiano Ronaldo was never fond of school.
His tutors described him as a ‘troubled child’. A few accounts say that he was just not interested in studying. Others say that he was getting bullied at school which made him hate it there.
Whatever the reason, Ronaldo and his mother chose to stop his education and focus on soccer.
9. Ronaldo Suffered From a Career-Altering Heart Condition
At 15 years old, Ronaldo almost gave up soccer due to a heart condition called tachycardia.
Tachycardia is a heart condition where the heart rate exceeds the normal resting rate.
Thankfully, he had a successful surgery where a laser burnt off several cardiac pathways into one.
Diamonds are made under pressure. And Ronaldo is the perfect example.
Early Career Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo
10. Ronaldo Got Promoted From the Reserve Team to the Senior Team in Just One Season
Cristiano Ronaldo was promoted from the Sporting Lisbon youth team to the reserve team at the age of 16.
Ronaldo impressed László Bölöni (manager of Sporting) with his skills. So, Bölöni decided to promote him to Sporting Lisbon’s B team.
Ronaldo was then promoted to the Sporting Lisbon first team. All in a single season.
11. Ronaldo Scored Two Goals in his League Debut
Ronaldo made his Primeira Liga debut in September 2002 against Braga.
Sporting won that game 3-0 and Ronaldo scored two goals. Everyone knew that a star was born.
12. Ronaldo Was Offered to Liverpool and Barcelona
During the 2002/03 season, Ronaldo’s agent suggested the player to Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier and Barcelona president Joan Laporta.
As we know now, they didn’t accept the offer.
Gérard Houllier didn’t agree with Ronaldo’s wage demands. He also felt that Ronaldo wasn’t needed by Liverpool at the time.
13. Arsenal Almost Signed Him
This is one of the biggest regrets of Arsène Wenger. He showed great interest in signing the young Portuguese player.
Wenger even had a meeting with Ronaldo in London to discuss the transfer.
But unfortunately for Arsenal, they couldn’t pull off the deal.
14. Manchester United Signed Ronaldo After a Friendly Match
What was Arsenal’s loss was Manchester United’s gain.
Sporting defeated Manchester United 3-1 in a friendly. They played this match to inaugurate the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon.
But, Ronaldo stole the spotlight.
Sir Alex Ferguson was so impressed by Ronaldo that he decided to sign him then and there. Manchester United paid a fee of £12.24 million to Sporting for Ronaldo.
Ferguson also called Ronaldo “one of the most exciting young players” he had ever seen.
Manchester United Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo
15. The First Portuguese Player to Play For Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo completed his move to Manchester United on August 12, 2003.
He made his debut against Bolton, becoming the first Portuguese player to play for Manchester United.
16. The Most Expensive Teenager in English Soccer
Ronaldo’s transfer fee of £12.24 million made him the most expensive teenager in English soccer history.
This record has since been broken. Anthony Martial currently holds the record (€60m) of the most expensive teenager in English soccer.
17. He Wanted The Number 28 Shirt, Not The Number 7
Ronaldo requested to wear the number 28 shirt at Manchester United.
Sir Alex Ferguson, however, saw the great potential and gave Ronaldo the number 7.
United legends like George Best, Eric Cantona, and David Beckham wore the number 7. And Ferguson felt that Ronaldo was the best player to continue that legacy.
The number 7 shirt became a source of extra motivation for Ronaldo to succeed at United.
18. Alex Ferguson Was a Father Figure for Ronaldo
Sir Alex Ferguson played a huge role in developing Ronaldo, both on and off the pitch.
After the death of Ronaldo’s father in 2005, Ferguson became the father figure in his life.
As Cristiano Ronaldo later said, “He’s been my father in sport, one of the most important and influential factors in my career.”
19. George Best Praised Ronaldo After his Debut
There’s no greater motivation than praise from the legend George Best after your first game.
After watching him play, Best knew that the number 7 shirt had gone to the right player.
As he said in an interview, “There have been a few players described as ‘the new George Best’ over the years, but this is the first time it’s been a compliment to me.”
20. He Was Criticized by the Media For His Tricks
If there’s one thing the media is good at; it’s criticizing soccer players. And Ronaldo was treated no differently.
During his first season at United, the media consistently faulted Ronaldo for doing too many ‘step-overs’ and tricks.
Alan Hansen, a BBC pundit, wrote:
“He has got the tricks and party pieces, we know that, but they’re not much good unless there is something at the end of it all. We still have to remember, of course, that the lad is only 19 years of age. Considering that, you have to say he has got massive talent.”
21. Ronaldo Became Public Enemy #1 in England
Soccer fans can be ruthless. And Ronaldo learned it early in his career. Rival club fans booed him for a whole season.
But why did they do that?
The incident happened at the 2006 World Cup. England played Portugal in the quarter-finals. So, Ronaldo was up against several of his Man Utd teammates.
A fight erupted between the two teams in the second half in which Ronaldo played his part. As a result, the referee sent off Wayne Rooney, and fans blamed Ronaldo.
After the World Cup, Ronaldo publicly asked for a transfer due to the lack of support from the club. The club denied his request, but the fans continued to give him stick for the rest of that season.
The hatred from fans seemed to work as a motivator for Ronaldo as he recorded his best-ever season. He finished the season with 20+ goals and a Premier League trophy.
22. René Meulensteen Played A Big Part in Ronaldo’s Development
René Meulensteen was the first-team coach at Manchester United. He gave Ronaldo one-to-one coaching to improve his game.
Meulensteen taught Ronaldo to be more unpredictable and improve his teamwork. He also taught him to call for the ball and capitalize on goalscoring opportunities rather than waiting for a chance to appear.
These coaching sessions helped in turning Ronaldo from a young talent into the star he is today.
23. Ronaldo Scored His First Hat-trick Against Newcastle United
It took Cristiano Ronaldo more than seven years to score his first hat-trick.
The hat-trick came against Newcastle United in 2008. Ronaldo scored three goals in a 6-0 win.
24. Ronaldo was the First Player to Win all PFA and FWA Awards in a Single Season
After a brilliant 2006/07 season, Ronaldo became one of the best players in the world.
As a result, he won the PFA Player’s Player, Fans’ Player and Young Player of the Year awards. He also won the FWA Footballer of the Year award.
25. He was the First Winger to win the European Golden Shoe
Ronaldo’s amazing form continued into the 2007/08 season as he scored 31 goals in the Premier League.
He was the top scorer in the Premier League and Europe. This meant he won the Premier League Golden Boot, as well as the European Golden Shoe.
He also won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards for the second straight season.
26. Ronaldo Won his First Ballon d’Or at the Age of 24
Cristiano Ronaldo won almost everything there was to win in the 2007/08 season.
He helped United win the Premier League and Champions League with a staggering 42 goals in all comps.
To top it off, Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or in 2008, defeating Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres for the trophy.
He was also the first United player since George Best in 1968 to win the Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo was, after all, the NEW George Best.
27. He scored his first Europa League goal at the age of 37
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first Europa League goal during his second spell with United.
That’s not to say it was his fault. He had never played in the competition before.
28. Manchester United terminated Ronaldo’s contract during his second spell
Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t part ways in the best of ways.
Ronaldo felt that he wasn’t respected by the manager, Erik Ten Hag, and the executives at the club.
He even appeared in an interview with Piers Morgan to tell his side of the story and announce that he would leave the club.
Safe to say, it wasn’t the prettiest of breakups. But United fans still hold Ronaldo in high regard.
Fun Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid
29. Real Madrid Paid a World Record Fee for Ronaldo
In 2009, Real Madrid signed Ronaldo for a then-world record fee of £80 million.
Ronaldo spent nine years at Madrid, winning four Ballon d’Ors, four Champions League titles, and two La Liga titles, among others.
30. Ronaldo had a €1 billion buy-out clause in his Contract
Yes, you heard that right. Real Madrid put a €1 billion buy-out clause in Ronaldo’s contract.
They didn’t want other clubs to even think about buying Ronaldo.
31. 80,000 Fans attended his Presentation
How often does a stadium fill up just to see a new signing? Not often.
Diego Maradona held the previous record when 75,000 Napoli fans showed up to watch his presentation. A 25-year record was broken by Ronaldo.
80,000 Real Madrid fans showed up to see the unveiling of their new star player.
32. Ronaldo Wore the Number 9 Shirt During his First Year at Madrid
The brand CR7 was already a huge thing in soccer. But Ronaldo had to wait for a year to get his hands on the number 7 shirt at Madrid.
You see, the club captain Raul was still playing and had the number 7 shirt. So Ronaldo had to wait till he left the club to get the number 7.
33. Real Madrid insured Ronaldo’s legs for £90 million
After completing the signing of Ronaldo, Madrid announced that they are also insuring Ronaldo’s legs for £90 million.
They did this because the Madrid board didn’t want to take any chances on the huge investment they had just made.
34. Ronaldo Scored Four Goals in a Single Match for the first time in 2010
Cristiano Ronaldo became a goal-scoring machine at Real Madrid.
This was on display early on as he scored four goals past Racing Santander in a 6-1 win. From this point on, Ronaldo just could not stop scoring.
35. Ronaldo was the First Player in La Liga to Score 40 Goals in a Season
Another year, another record broken by Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo finished the 2010/11 season with 40 goals.
This was the highest score tally in the league and the first time a player had achieved it in La Liga.
36. Ronaldo is Madrid’s all-time Top Goal Scorer
Cristiano Ronaldo became Madrid’s all-time top goal scorer in 2015.
He surpassed Raul by scoring 324 goals for Madrid in all competitions.
Ronaldo currently sits at the top of Real Madrid’s scoring charts with 450 goals. Karim Benzema is second on the list with 354 goals.
37. Ronaldo is the Top Scorer in the Champions League
Cristiano Ronaldo is also Champions League’s all-time top scorer with 140 goals.
Raul held the previous record with 71 goals which Ronaldo broke in 2015.
38. Ronaldo has Won Five Ballon d’Or Awards
Ronaldo has cemented his legacy as one of the best athletes ever by winning five Ballon d’Or awards.
He won the Ballon d’Or in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
Ronaldo is second only to Lionel Messi (8 awards) for the most Ballon d’Or awards won. Their rivalry contributed to a decade-long dominance over the award.
39. He Left Real Madrid Because of Florentino Perez
Florentino Perez can be a hard person to work with. And that’s exactly why Ronaldo felt he needed to move somewhere else.
After moving to Juventus, Ronaldo told the media that he left Madrid due to the lack of support shown by Perez.
The media also attribute the move to Ronaldo needing a new challenge. Ronaldo had a new league to conquer.
Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus
40. Juventus Paid an Italian record fee to Sign Ronaldo
Ronaldo moved to Juventus in 2018 for a fee of €100 million. It was the highest-ever transfer fee paid by an Italian club.
The fee was also the highest ever paid for a player above 30 years old.
41. Ronaldo is the first player to win 100 Champions League matches
Ronaldo became the first soccer player to win 100 Champions League matches when Juventus beat Valencia 1-0.
He assisted Mandzukic’s goal in the game.
42. He has won the top scorer award in England, Spain, and Italy
Ronaldo scored 29 goals in the 2020/21 season to win the Capocannoniere award.
This meant he became the only player to win the top scorer award in England, Italy, and Spain.
43. Ronaldo almost joined Manchester City
In 2021, rumors circulated that Ronaldo would leave Juventus. Manchester City and Pep Guardiola were the frontrunners for signing Ronaldo.
Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, had even agreed the personal terms with Manchester City executives. But the deal fell through on the final day as the clubs couldn’t agree on a transfer fee.
On the same day, Manchester United made their move and signed Cristiano Ronaldo for a second time.
Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr
44. Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid soccer player in the world
Cristiano Ronaldo earns €200 million per year, making him the highest-paid player in the history of soccer.
Al Nassr also paid him a signing bonus of a whopping €100 million.
45. Ronaldo started the trend of players joining Saudi League
No matter what you think about the Saudi League, it’s still attracting top players.
After Ronaldo’s move to Saudi in 2023, more soccer eyes started turning towards the Middle East. Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup helped as well.
Top players such as Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané, N’Golo Kanté, Rúben Neves, Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, and Neymar all moved to the Saudi League. Most of them credited Ronaldo as a factor for moving to the league.
International Career Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo
46. Named in the Team of the Tournament at his first Euros
Cristiano Ronaldo was called up for the 2004 Euros shortly after making his debut for Portugal.
Despite losing the final to Greece, Ronaldo was one of the best players in the tournament.
Ronaldo scored two goals and provided two assists. His performances earned him a place in the Team of the Tournament.
47. Ronaldo is the youngest-ever Portuguese goal scorer in a World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo had another solid campaign at the 2006 World Cup.
At just 21 years and 132 days, he became the youngest-ever goalscorer for Portugal at a World Cup finals.
48. He earned Man of the Match in every single Group Game at the 2010 World Cup
By 2010, Ronaldo was already a superstar and had the hopes of Portugal on his shoulders. And he delivered.
In the group stage of the 2010 World Cup, Portugal faced North Korea, Brazil, and Ivory Coast. He scored just one goal at the tournament. However, his overall performance earned him Man of the Match awards in all three games.
49. Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer for Portugal
If there’s a quiz question about the top scorer in soccer, you can safely put your bet on Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time top scorer for Portugal in 2014. He currently sits at the top of the charts with 127 goals.
Pualeta is second on the list with 47 goals.
50. Ronaldo is the highest scorer in International Soccer
Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t only the highest-scoring player for Portugal. He’s also the highest scorer in international soccer with 127 goals.
Iran’s Ali Dael is second with 108 goals, followed by Lionel Messi with 106 goals.
51. He got injured during Portugal’s win in Euros 2016
Portugal defeated France in the final of the Euros 2016. But Ronaldo wasn’t a part of it.
Cristiano Ronaldo was stretchered off in the first half after a tackle from Dimitri Payet. And all he could do was watch from the sidelines.
Thankfully, the substitute Eder became the savior as he scored the game’s only goal in extra time.
Portugal won 1-0 and Ronaldo won his first international trophy.
52. Ronaldo is the most-capped player of all time
If you don’t know what a cap is, it’s a term used for international appearances of a player.
Ronaldo became the most-capped player of all time during the 2022 World Cup. He came on as a substitute in the quarter-finals against Morocco.
He holds the record for most caps with 206 appearances for Portugal.
Bader Al-Mutawa from Kuwait is second on the list with 196 caps.
Other Amazing Cristiano Ronaldo Facts
53. Ronaldo is strong with both feet
Some players are good with their right feet, others are good with their left.
Cristiano Ronaldo can do it with both his feet. He can shoot, dribble, and pass with either foot.
Despite being a right-footed player, he’s capable of scoring screamers with his left foot as well.
54. Cristiano Ronaldo can leap higher than most NBA players
Cristiano Ronaldo is not only good with his feet. He can win against any soccer player in an aerial duel as well.
While playing for Real Madrid, Ronaldo recorded a leap of 78 cm off the ground to score a header against Manchester United.
The jump was higher than an average NBA player.
55. He is a true showman
Ronaldo knows the value of showmanship in soccer. It gets all the eyes on you, and that’s good for business.
For instance, his stance before taking free kicks is unique and has become iconic among soccer fans.
Another example is his famous “Siu” celebration. Young inspiring soccer players do this celebration whenever they score a goal.
56. Ronaldo is a smart businessman
Ronaldo isn’t only good at soccer. He’s also a very successful businessman.
He has a line of CR7 branded products that include fragrances, clothing, and footwear.
Ronaldo has also invested in several hospitality businesses.
57. A Museum is dedicated to Ronaldo
The Museu CR7 is a museum dedicated to the life and career of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The museum is located in Ronaldo’s hometown Madeira, Portugal. It includes memorabilia and artifacts from Ronaldo’s childhood and career.
The Museu CR7 has proven to be great for the tourism promotion of Madeira.
58. An Airport is named after Ronaldo
The international airport of Madeira is called Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport.
The airport was renamed in 2017 to honor the legacy of Ronaldo.
59. A Galaxy is named after Ronaldo
Continuing the trend of stuff named after Ronaldo, we travel to outer space.
The astronomers at the University of Lancaster discovered a galaxy in 2015 and named it after Cristiano Ronaldo.
Taking inspiration from Ronaldo, the astronomers named the galaxy Cosmos Redshift 7 Galaxy (or CR7 Galaxy).
60. Ronaldo is the most famous sportsperson on Social Media
Cristiano Ronaldo has more than 500 million followers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
He’s the most followed person on Instagram (615 million), and Facebook (168 million). He’s also the most followed sportsperson on Twitter (X) with 109 million followers.
Talk about influence.
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