CR7" redirects here.

For other uses, see Cristiano Ronaldo (disambiguation) and CR7

(disambiguation).
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is dos Santos and the
second or paternal family name is Aveiro.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo playing for Al Nassr in 2023

Personal information

Full name Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro[1]

Date of birth 5 February 1985 (age 39)[2]

Place of birth Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[note 1]

Position(s) Forward

Team information

Current team 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 58 (58)

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 217 (135)

show

Medal record

Signature

*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as

of 17:40, 29 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:40, 15
 November 2024 (UTC)

This article is part of a series about

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portuguese professional footballer

 Career
 International goals
 Achievements
 Rivalry with Lionel Messi

Eponyms and public art

 Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport
 Estádio da Madeira
 Museu CR7

Films
 The World at His Feet (2014)
 Ronaldo (2015)

Family
 Kátia Aveiro
 Georgina Rodríguez

Related
 Galaxy CR7
 v
 t
 e
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM (Portuguese pronunciation: [kɾiʃˈtjɐnu ʁɔ
ˈnaldu] ⓘ; born 5 February 1985) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as
a forward for and captains both Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and the Portugal
national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo has
won numerous individual accolades throughout his career, such as five Ballon
d'Or awards, a record three UEFA Men's Player of the Year Awards, four European
Golden Shoes, and was named five times the world's best player by FIFA,[note 3] the most
by a European player. He has won 33 trophies in his career, including seven league
titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, the UEFA European Championship and
the UEFA Nations League. Ronaldo holds the records for
most appearances (183), goals (140) and assists (42) in the Champions League, most
appearances (30), assists (8), goals in the European Championship (14), international
appearances (217) and international goals (135). He is one of the few players to have
made over 1,200 professional career appearances, the most by an outfield player, and
has scored over 900 official senior career goals for club and country, making him the
top goalscorer of all time.[note 4]
Ronaldo began his senior career with Sporting CP, before signing with Manchester
United in 2003, winning the FA Cup in his first season. He went on to win three
consecutive Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FIFA Club World
Cup; at age 23, he won his first Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo was the subject of the then-most
expensive association football transfer when he signed for Real Madrid in 2009 in
a transfer worth €94 million (£80 million). He became a key contributor and formed an
attacking trio with Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale which was integral to the team
winning four Champions Leagues from 2014 to 2018, including La Décima. During this
period, he won back-to-back Ballons d'Or in 2013 and 2014, and again
in 2016 and 2017, and was runner-up three times behind Lionel Messi, his
perceived career rival. He also became the club's all-time top goalscorer and the all-
time top scorer in the Champions League, and finished as the competition's top scorer
for six consecutive seasons between 2012 and 2018. With Real, Ronaldo won four
Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey, two UEFA Super Cups and
three Club World Cups. In 2018, he signed for Juventus in a transfer worth an initial
€100 million (£88 million), the most expensive transfer for an Italian club and for a
player over 30 years old. He won two Serie A titles, two Supercoppa Italiana trophies
and a Coppa Italia, became the inaugural Serie A Most Valuable Player, and the first
footballer to finish as top scorer in the English, Spanish and Italian leagues. He returned
to Manchester United in 2021, finishing his only full season as the club's top scorer,
before his contract was terminated in 2022. In 2023, he signed for Al Nassr.

Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal in 2003 at the age of 18 and has
earned more than 200 caps, making him history's most-capped male player.[8] With 130
international goals, he is also the all-time top male goalscorer. Ronaldo has played in
eleven major tournaments and scored in ten; he scored his first international goal
at Euro 2004, where he helped Portugal reach the final. He assumed captaincy of the
national team in July 2008. In 2015, Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of
all time by the Portuguese Football Federation. The following year, he led Portugal to
their first major tournament title at Euro 2016, and received the Silver Boot as the
second-highest goalscorer of the tournament. This achievement saw him receive
his fourth Ballon d'Or. He also led them to victory in the inaugural UEFA Nations
League in 2019, receiving the top scorer award in the finals, and later received
the Golden Boot as top scorer of Euro 2020. The same tournament, he broke the record
of most international goals scored in men's football and became the player with
the most international caps in men's football in 2023.

One of the world's most marketable and famous athletes, Ronaldo was ranked
the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2016, 2017, 2023, and 2024 and the
world's most famous athlete by ESPN from 2016 to 2019. Time included him on their list
of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014. Ronaldo is the most popular
sportsperson on social media: he counts over 1 billion total followers
across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, making him the first person to
achieve that feat. In 2020, Ronaldo was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team and he
is the first footballer and the third sportsman to earn US$1 billion in his career.

Early life
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on 5 February 1985 in the São
Pedro parish of Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, and grew up in
the nearby parish of Santo António.[9][10] He is the fourth and youngest child of Maria
Dolores dos Santos Viveiros Aveiro, who worked as a cook in the hospitality
industry and a cleaning woman,[11][12] and José Dinis Aveiro, a municipal gardener at
the Junta de Freguesia of Santo António and part-time kit man for football
club Andorinha.[13][14][15] His great-grandmother on his father's side, Isabel da Piedade, an
African woman, was born in the island of São Vicente, in what was then Portuguese
Cape Verde, and moved to Madeira Island at 16.[16][17] He has one older brother, Hugo,
and two older sisters, Elma and Liliana Cátia "Kátia".[2] He was named after actor and
U.S. President Ronald Reagan, whom his father was a fan of.[18] His mother revealed
that she wanted to abort him due to poverty, his father's alcoholism, and having too
many children already, but her doctor refused to perform the procedure.[19][20] Ronaldo
grew up in an impoverished Catholic home, sharing a room with all his siblings.[21]

As a child, Ronaldo played for Andorinha from 1992 to 1995,[22] where his father was the
kit man,[13] and later spent two years with Nacional. In 1997, aged 12, he went on a
three-day trial with Sporting CP, who signed him for a fee of £1,500.[23] He subsequently
moved from Madeira to Lisbon to join Sporting CP's youth system.[23] By age 14, while
struggling with his school duties and responsibilities in Escola EB2 de Telheiras, his
school in the Telheiras area of Lisbon, Ronaldo believed he had the ability to play semi-
professionally and agreed with his mother and his tutor at Sporting CP, Leonel Pontes,
[24]
to cease his education to focus entirely on football.[25][26] With a troubled life as a
student,[27] and although living in Lisbon area away from his Madeiran family,[28][29] he did
not complete schooling beyond the 6th grade.[30][31] While popular with other students at
school, he had been expelled after throwing a chair at his teacher, who he said had
"disrespected" him.[25] One year later, he was diagnosed with tachycardia, a condition
that could have forced him to give up playing football.[32] Ronaldo underwent heart
surgery where a laser was used to cauterise multiple cardiac pathways into one, altering
his resting heart rate.[33] He was discharged from the hospital hours after the procedure
and resumed training a few days later.[34] In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo's mother, Dolores
Aveiro, stated in an interview for Sporting CP's official television channel (Sporting TV)
that her son would be a bricklayer if he hadn't become a professional football player.[35]
Growing up, Ronaldo idolised the Brazilian footballers Ronaldinho and Ronaldo
Nazário, and has described them as leaving "a beautiful history in football".[36]

Club career
Main article: Career of Cristiano Ronaldo § Club career
Sporting CP (2002–2003)
After impressing in Sporting's youth teams, he was promoted to the main team by first-
team manager László Bölöni. At age 17, on 14 August 2002, he played his first official
match for the first team, in a UEFA Champions League qualifying round at José
Alvalade Stadium against Inter Milan,[37] and his Primeira Liga debut, took place a month
later against Braga, and on 7 October, he scored two goals against Moreirense in their
3–0 win.[38] Over the course of the 2002–03 season, his representatives suggested the
player to Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier and Barcelona president Joan Laporta.
[39]
Manager Arsène Wenger, who was interested in signing Ronaldo, met with him
at Arsenal's stadium in November to discuss a possible transfer.[40]

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was determined to acquire Ronaldo on a

permanent move urgently, after Sporting defeated United 3–1 at the inauguration of
the Estádio José Alvalade on 6 August 2003. Initially, United had planned to sign
Ronaldo and loan him back to Sporting for a year.[41] Having been impressed by him, the
United players urged Ferguson to sign him. After the game, Ferguson agreed to pay
Sporting £12.24 million[41] for what he considered to be "one of the most exciting young
players" he had ever seen.[42]

Manchester United (2003–2009)

2003–2007: Development and breakthrough
"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."
—Former Manchester United player George Best hails the 18-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003.[43]

Manchester United's signed Ronaldo for £12 million on 12 August 2003,[44] an England
record for a teenager.[45] This also made him the first Portuguese player to sign for the
club.[46]

Although he requested the number 28, his number at Sporting, he received the squad
number 7 shirt, which had previously been worn by such United players as George
Best, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.[47] Wearing the number 7 became an extra
source of motivation for Ronaldo.[48] A key element in his development during his time in
England proved to be Ferguson, of whom he later said: "He's been my father in sport,
one of the most important and influential factors in my career."[49]
 Ronaldo playing for Manchester United
against Chelsea during the 2005–06 Premier League season
Ronaldo made his debut as a substitute in a 4–0 home win over Bolton Wanderers in
the Premier League on 16 August 2003.[50] His performance earned praise from Best,
who hailed it as "undoubtedly the most exciting debut" he had ever seen.[43] Ronaldo
scored his first goal for Manchester United with a free-kick in a 3–0 win
over Portsmouth on 1 November.[51] Towards the end of the season, he received the
first red card of his career.[52] Ronaldo ended his first season in English football by
scoring the opening goal in United's 3–0 win over Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup Final,
earning his first trophy.[53] BBC pundit Alan Hansen described him as the star of the final.
[54]
The British press had been critical of Ronaldo during the season for his "elaborate"
step-overs in trying to beat opponents,[55] but teammate Gary Neville said he was "not a
show pony, but the real thing", and predicted he would become a world-class player. [56]

"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. His
feet are mesmerising at times, and if he can couple that with some consistently good
crossing, the future looks frightening."
—Former BBC pundit Alan Hansen commenting on Ronaldo after his first season.[54]

At the start of 2005, Ronaldo played two of his best matches of the 2004–05 season,
producing a goal and an assist against Aston Villa and scoring twice
against rivals Arsenal.[57][58] Ronaldo won his second trophy in English football,
the Football League Cup, after scoring the third goal in United's 4–0 final win
over Wigan Athletic.[59]

During his third season in England, Ronaldo was involved in several incidents. Ronaldo
clashed with a teammate, striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took offence at the winger's
showboating style of play.[60] Following the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in which he was
involved in an incident where club teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off,[61] Ronaldo
publicly asked for a transfer, lamenting the lack of support he felt he had received from
the club over the incident.[62] United denied the possibility of him leaving the club.
[63]
Although his World Cup altercation with Rooney resulted in Ronaldo being booed
throughout the 2006–07 season,[64] it proved to be his break-out year, as he broke the
20-goal barrier for the first time and won his first Premier League title.[65]

2007–2009: Collective and individual success and Ballon d'Or

 Ronaldo playing for Manchester United during the 2006–07
Premier League season
In the 2006–07 season, he amassed a host of personal awards for the season, winning
the Professional Footballers' Association's Player's Player, Fans' Player, Young Player
of the Year awards, and the Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the
Year award,[66][67] becoming the first player to win all four main PFA and FWA honours.
[68]
Ronaldo was named runner-up to Kaká for the 2007 Ballon d'Or,[69] and came third,
behind Kaká and Lionel Messi, in the running for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the
Year award.[70]

Ronaldo scored his first hat-trick for United in a 6–0 win against Newcastle United on 12
January 2008.[71] His 31 league goals earned him the Premier League Golden Boot,[72] as
well as the European Golden Shoe, which made him the first winger to win the latter
award.[73] He additionally received the PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA
Footballer of the Year awards for the second consecutive season.[74][75] United reached
the final against Chelsea in Moscow on 21 May, where, despite his opening goal being
negated by an equaliser and his penalty kick being saved in the shoot-out,[76] United
emerged victorious, winning 6–5 on penalties after a 1–1 draw at the end of 120
minutes.[77][78] As the Champions League top scorer, Ronaldo was named the UEFA Club
Footballer of the Year.[79] With his 2008 Ballon d'Or and 2008 FIFA World Player of the
Year, Ronaldo became United's first Ballon d'Or winner since Best in 1968,[80] and the
first Premier League player to be named the FIFA World Player of the Year.[81]

Shortly after, Ronaldo was linked to a move to Real Madrid, United filed a tampering
complaint with governing body FIFA over Madrid's alleged pursuit of their player, but
they declined to take action.[82] and he remained at United for another year.[83] His match-
winning goal in the second leg against Porto, a 40-yard strike, earned him the
inaugural FIFA Puskás Award, presented by FIFA in recognition of the best goal of the
year;[84] he later called it the best goal he had ever scored.[85] United advanced to
the final in Rome,[86] where he made little impact in United's 2–0 defeat to Barcelona.[87]

Real Madrid (2009–2018)

2009–2015: World record transfer and consecutive Ballon d'Or wins
In 2009, Ronaldo transferred to Real Madrid for a then world record £80 million.[88] At
least 80,000 fans attended his presentation at the Santiago Bernabéu, surpassing the
25-year record of 75,000 fans who had welcomed Diego Maradona at Napoli.[89]

Ronaldo made his La Liga debut against Deportivo La Coruña on 29 August, scoring a
penalty in a 3–2 home win.[90] He scored in each of his first four league games, the first
Madrid player to do so.[91] His first Champions League goals for the club followed with
two free kicks in the first group match against Zürich.[92] His strong start to the season
was interrupted when he suffered an ankle injury in October while on international duty,
which kept him sidelined for seven weeks.[93][94] Despite scoring 33 goals in all
competitions and contributing to Real Madrid's 96 points in La Liga, his first season with
Madrid ended trophyless.[95]

Ronaldo scored 46 league goals during the La Liga championship

success in his third season in Spain.
Following Raúl's departure, Ronaldo was given No. 7 for the 2010–11 season and
scored 53 goals, helping Madrid win the Copa del Rey, scoring the winning goal against
rivals Barcelona in the El Clásico, his first trophy with Madrid.[96] He also became the first
player in La Liga to score 40 goals.[97] In addition to the Pichichi Trophy, Ronaldo won
the European Golden Shoe for a second time, becoming the first player to win the
award in different leagues.[98]

The following season saw Ronaldo score 60 goals across all competitions,[99] leading
Madrid to their first league title in four years with a record 100 points and his runner-up
finish to Lionel Messi in the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or.[100] He scored his 100th league goal
for Madrid in a 5–1 win over Real Sociedad on 24 March 2012, breaking the previous
club record held by Ferenc Puskás.[101] In the 2012–13 season, he scored his first hat-
trick in the Champions League in a 4–1 win over Ajax.[102] Four days later, he became
the first player to score in six successive Clásicos when he hit a brace in a 2–2 draw
at Camp Nou.[103] His performances again saw Ronaldo voted second in the running for
the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or, behind four-time winner Messi.[104]

Following the 2012–13 winter break, Ronaldo captained Madrid for the first time in an
official match, scoring twice to lift 10-man Madrid to a 4–3 win over Sociedad on 6
January.[105] He subsequently became the first non-Spanish player in 60 years to captain
Madrid in El Clasico on 30 January, a match which also marked his 500th club
appearance.[106]

In 2013–14 season, Ronaldo was joined at the club by winger Gareth Bale and together
with striker Karim Benzema, they formed an attacking trio popularly dubbed "BBC", an
acronym of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano, and a play on the name of the British public
service broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).[107] He continued prolific
scoring, with 69 goals in 2013, winning the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or,[108] and the FIFA
World Player of the Year award, for the first time in his career.[109]

Ronaldo scored a record 17 UEFA Champions League goals during

the 2013–14 season en route to La Décima.
Concurrently with his individual achievements, Ronaldo enjoyed his greatest team
success in Spain to date, as he helped Madrid win La Décima, their tenth European
Cup, scoring a penalty in the 120th minute of the 4–1 final win over city rivals Atlético
Madrid, becoming the first player to score in two European Cup finals for two different
winning teams.[110] As the competition's top goalscorer for the third time, with a record 17
goals,[111] he was named the UEFA Best Player in Europe.[112] Ronaldo scored 31 goals in
30 league games, which earned him the Pichichi and the European Golden Shoe, along
with Liverpool's Luis Suárez[113] On 4 May, Ronaldo scored a back-heeled volley in the
closing moments of the match against Valencia, voted goal of the season by the Liga
Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (LFP),[114] giving him the Best Player in La Liga award.[115]

During the 2014–15 season, Ronaldo set a new personal best of 61 goals, and after
winning the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup,[116] Ronaldo received the 2014 Ballon d'Or,
[117]
joining Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten as a three-time recipient.
[118]
Madrid finished in second place in La Liga and exited at the semi-final stage in the
Champions League.[119] With 10 goals, he finished as top scorer for a third consecutive
season, alongside Messi and Neymar.[120] On 5 April, he scored five goals in a game for
the first time in his career, including an eight-minute hat-trick, in a 9–1 rout of Granada.
[121]
His 300th goal for his club followed three days later in a 2–0 win against Rayo
Vallecano.[122] He finished the season with 48 goals, winning a second consecutive
Pichichi and the European Golden Shoe for a record fourth time.[123]
2015–2018: All-time Madrid top scorer and Fifth Ballon d'Or
Cristiano Ronaldo became Real Madrid's all-time top scorer on 12 September 2015
against Espanyol, netting 230 goals in 203 matches, surpassing the previous record
holder, Raúl.[124] Ronaldo also became the all-time top scorer in the Champions
League with a hat-trick in the first group match against Shakhtar Donetsk, having
finished the previous season level with Messi on 77 goals.[125] Two goals against Malmö
FF in a 2–0 away win on 30 September saw him reach the milestone of 500 career
goals for club and country.[126] He won the 2016 Ballon d'Or, his fourth, and the
inaugural 2016 The Best FIFA Men's Player, a revival of the former FIFA World Player
of the Year, largely owing to his success with Portugal in winning Euro 2016.[127]

Ronaldo in the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final, his final

game for Real Madrid
In the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern in April,
Ronaldo scored both goals in a 2–1 away win which saw him make history by becoming
the first player to reach 100 goals in UEFA club competition.[128] On 17 May, Ronaldo
overtook Jimmy Greaves as the all-time top scorer in the top five European leagues,
scoring twice against Celta de Vigo.[129] He finished the season with 42 goals in all
competitions as he helped Madrid to win their first La Liga title since 2012.[130] In
the Champions League Final, Ronaldo scored two goals in a 4–1 victory
over Juventus to take him to 12 goals for the season, making him the competition's top
goalscorer for the fifth straight season (sixth overall), as well as the first player to score
in three finals in the Champions League era; the second goal was the 600th of his
senior career.[131] Madrid also became the first team to win back-to-back finals in the
Champions League era.[132]

On 23 October, his performances throughout 2017 saw him awarded The Best FIFA
Men's Player award for the second consecutive year.[133] A day later, Ronaldo won
the 2017 Ballon d'Or, receiving his fifth-time award on the Eiffel Tower in Paris.[134] On 3
April 2024, Ronaldo scored the first two goals in a 3–0 away win against Juventus in
the quarter-finals of the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League, with his second goal being
an acrobatic bicycle kick. Described as a "PlayStation goal" by Juventus
defender Andrea Barzagli, with Ronaldo's foot approximately 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) off the
ground, it garnered him a standing ovation from the opposing fans in the stadium as
well as a plethora of plaudits from peers, pundits and coaches.[135] In the final on 26 May,
Madrid defeated Liverpool 3–1, winning Ronaldo his fifth Champions League title, the
first player to do so.[136] He finished as the top scorer of the tournament for the sixth
consecutive season with 15 goals.[137] After the final, Ronaldo referred to his time with
Madrid in the past tense, sparking speculation that he could leave the club.[138]

Juventus (2018–2021)
Ronaldo joined Juventus in 2018 for €100 million, the transfer was the highest ever for a
player over 30 years old and the highest paid by an Italian club.[139] Upon signing,
Ronaldo cited his need for a new challenge as his rationale for departing Madrid,[140] but
later attributed the transfer to the lack of support he felt was shown by club
president Florentino Pérez.[141]

2018–2020: Consecutive Serie A titles

On 18 August, Ronaldo made his debut in a 3–2 away win against Chievo Verona.
[142]
On 19 September, in his first Champions League match for Juve, he was sent off
against Valencia, his first red card in 154 Champions League appearances.[143] In the
reverse (home) leg against Valencia, Cristiano won 100 Champions League matches,
becoming the first ever player to do so.[144]

Ronaldo playing for Juventus against Torino in November 2019

Ronaldo won his first trophy with the club on 16 January 2019, the 2018 Supercoppa
Italiana, after he scored the only goal from a header against AC Milan.[145] On 10
February, Ronaldo scored in a 3–0 win over Sassuolo, the ninth consecutive away
game in which he had scored in the league, equalling Giuseppe Signori's single season
Serie A record of most consecutive away games with at least one goal.[146] On 12 March,
Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 home win against Atlético in the second leg of the
Champions League round of 16, helping Juventus overcome a two-goal deficit to reach
the quarter-finals.[147] On 20 April, Ronaldo played in the scudetto clinching game against
Fiorentina, as Juventus won their eighth successive title after a 2–1 home win, thereby
becoming the first player to win league titles in England, Spain and Italy.[148] With 21
goals and eight assists, Ronaldo won the league award for Most Valuable Player.[149]

On 1 October, he reached several milestones in Juventus's 3–0 Champions

League group stage win over Bayer Leverkusen including breaking Iker Casillas' record
for most Champions League wins of all time.[150] On 18 December, Ronaldo leapt to a
height of 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m), higher than the crossbar, to head the winning goal in a 2–1
away win against Sampdoria.[151] He scored his first Serie A hat-trick on 6 January 2020,
in a 4–0 home win against Cagliari and became only the second player to score hat-
tricks in the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A.[152] On 22 February, Ronaldo scored
for a record-equalling 11th consecutive league game, alongside Gabriel
Batistuta and Fabio Quagliarella, in what was his 1,000th senior professional game, a
2–1 away win against SPAL.[153] On 22 June, he scored a penalty in a 2–0 away win
over Bologna, overtaking Rui Costa to become the highest scoring Portuguese player in
Serie A history.[154] On 20 July, Ronaldo scored twice in a 2–1 home win over Lazio; his
first goal was his 50th in Serie A. He became the first player in history to reach 50 goals
in the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, and becoming the second player after Edin
Džeko to score 50 goals in three of Europe's top five major leagues.[155] Moreover, he
became the oldest player, at the age of 35 years and 166 days, to score over 30 goals
in one of the five top European leagues since Ronnie Rooke with Arsenal in 1948.[156] On
26 July, Ronaldo scored the opening goal in a 2–0 home win over Sampdoria as
Juventus were crowned Serie A champions for a ninth consecutive time.[157] On 7
August, Ronaldo scored a brace in a 2–1 home win against Lyon in the second leg of
the Champions League round of 16, which saw him finish the season with 37 goals in all
competitions; the tally allowed him to break Borel's club record of 36 goals in a single
season.[158]

2020–2021: 100 Juve goals, Capocannoniere, and departure

Ronaldo played his 100th match in all competitions for Juventus on 13 December,
scoring two penalties in a 3–1 away win over Genoa in the league to bring his goal tally
to 79.[159] On 2 March 2021, he scored a goal in a 3–0 win over Spezia in his 600th
league match, to become the first player to score at least 20 goals in 12 consecutive
seasons in the top five leagues of Europe.[160] On 12 May, Ronaldo scored a goal in a 3–
1 away win over Sassuolo to reach his 100th goal for Juventus in all competitions on his
131st appearance, becoming the fastest Juventus player to achieve the feat.[161] With
Juventus's victory in the 2021 Coppa Italia Final on 19 May, Ronaldo became the first
player in history to win every major domestic trophy in England, Spain and Italy.
[162]
Ronaldo ended the season with 29 league goals, winning the Capocannoniere award
for highest goalscorer and becoming the first footballer to finish as top scorer in the
English, Spanish and Italian leagues.[163]
The start of the following season came amid reports Ronaldo would depart the club
before the closure of the transfer window,[164] despite Ronaldo and his agent Jorge
Mendes reaching a verbal agreement with Manchester City over personal terms,[165] but
the club pulled out of the deal,[166] and later it was confirmed that City's rivals Manchester
United, Ronaldo's former club, were in advanced talks to sign him,[167][168] while former
manager Alex Ferguson and several ex-teammates had been in contact to persuade
him to re-sign for United.[169][170]

Return to Manchester United (2021–2022)

Ronaldo in a Premier League match against Newcastle in September

2021, his first game back at Manchester United
On 27 August 2021, Manchester United announced they had reached an agreement
with Juventus to re-sign Ronaldo, subject to agreement of personal terms, visa and
medical.[171][172] Ronaldo was given the number 7 shirt after Edinson Cavani agreed to
switch to 21.[173] The first 24 hours of Ronaldo's shirt sales was reported to have broken
the all-time record following a transfer, overtaking Messi after his move to Paris Saint-
Germain.[174]

On 11 September, Ronaldo made his second debut at Old Trafford, scoring the opening
two goals in a 4–1 league victory against Newcastle United.[175] On 29 September, he
scored a last-minute winner in United's 2–1 victory at home to Villarreal in
the Champions League, and overtook Iker Casillas as the player with the most
appearances in the competition.[176] Ronaldo proved to be crucial in the next Champions
League fixtures, scoring various last minute goals to help United qualify for the round of
16 as group winners.[177] On 2 December, Ronaldo netted two goals in a 3–2 home
league win against Arsenal, which saw him surpass 800 career goals.[178] Struggles
ensued, with a fractured relationship with his teammates and interim manager,
continuing for two months,[179] until he scored in United's 2–0 win at home
versus Brighton & Hove Albion on 15 February 2022, his first in the new year.[180] He
finished the season with 24 goals in all competitions being named in the Premier
League Team of the Year and the winner of United's Sir Matt Busby Player of the
Year award,[181][182] but United finished in a disappointing sixth place and qualified for
the UEFA Europa League; as a result, Ronaldo went trophyless for the first time since
2010.[183]
After growing dissatisfaction with the direction of United on and off the field, Ronaldo
desired to leave to join a club competing in the Champions League, but a move failed to
materialise, with various European clubs refusing a transfer, due to his age, overall cost
of a transfer and high wage demands.[184][185] Shortly after, he fell out with manager Erik
ten Hag who used him as a substitute, leading United to terminate his contract on 22
November, following an interview with Piers Morgan, where Ronaldo said that he felt
"betrayed" by Ten Hag and criticized the management of the club.[186]

Al Nassr (2023–present)
On 30 December 2022, Saudi club Al-Nassr reached an agreement for Ronaldo to join
the club, signing a contract until 2025.[187] Ronaldo received the highest football salary
ever, at €200 million per year,[188][189] including a guaranteed football salary of €90 million,
with commercial and sponsorship deals bringing his total annual salary to €200 million.

Ronaldo with Al-Nassr in September 2023

He made his debut for Al Nassr on 22 January 2023, as club captain, playing the full 90
minutes of a 1–0 win over Al-Ettifaq,[190] and scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw
against Al-Fateh by converting a last-minute penalty.[191] On 9 February, Ronaldo scored
all four goals in a 4–0 win over Al Wehda, his first goal of the match being his 500th
career league goal.[192] According to the BBC, Ronaldo's transfer to Al-Nassr led a
"revolution" in Asian football, with many players from other leagues, particularly those in
Europe, transferring to Saudi Pro League clubs for the 2023–24 season.[193][194][195]

In the final of the Arab Club Champions Cup on 12 August, Ronaldo scored both goals
as they defeated rivals Al-Hilal 2–1 after extra time. Ronaldo scored six goals in the
competition.[196] At the close of the year, Ronaldo scored 54 goals in all competitions for
Al-Nassr and Portugal, making him the outright top scorer in 2023, reaching the same
goalscoring record as in 2016.[197][198] On 27 May 2024, in Al Nassr's home fixture
against Al-Ittihad, Ronaldo scored his 34th and 35th league goals of the campaign,
surpassing Abderrazak Hamdallah's record for the most goals scored in a single Saudi
Pro League season. He also became the first footballer to finish as top scorer in four
different leagues, the English, Spanish, Italian and Saudi leagues.[199] On 31 May, in a 5–
4 penalty shoot-out defeat to Al-Hilal in the 2024 King Cup final following a 1–1 draw
after extra-time (in which he scored his side's second spot kick), he equalled Rogério
Ceni's record for most top-level matches by a male professional footballer (1,225).[200]

International career