Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most popular soccer players in the world. He is known for his incredible skill on the field, but there is more to this superstar than meets the eye.
Here are 20 fun facts about Cristiano Ronaldo that you may not know
1. Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
2. His full name is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro.
3. Ronaldo has three older sisters: Liliana Cátia, Elma, and Hugo. His brother, Hugo, also plays soccer professionally.
4. As a child, Ronaldo played for amateur team Andorinha. At age 10, he was signed by Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon.
5. Ronaldo made his professional debut for Sporting Lisbon in 2002 at age 17.
6. In 2003, Ronaldo was named the Portuguese League Player of the Year.
7. In 2004, Ronaldo helped lead Portugal to the Euro Cup semifinals. He was named the tournament’s best young player.
8. After six seasons with Sporting Lisbon, Ronaldo transferred to English club Manchester United in 2003 for a then-world record fee of £12 million (about $24 million).
9. At Manchester United, Ronaldo won three Premier League titles, one Champions League title, and numerous other individual awards. He was also named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008.
10. In 2009, Ronaldo transferred to Spanish giant Real Madrid for a world record fee of £80 million (about $132 million).
11. With Real Madrid, Ronaldo has won two La Liga titles and one Champions League title. He was named FIFA Ballon d’Or Winner in 2013 and 2014.
12. Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer for Portugal with 49 goals in 115 appearances.
13. He is also the leading scorer in Real Madrid history with 288 goals in 264 appearances.
14. In 2014, Ronaldo signed a new five-year contract with Real Madrid that will pay him an annual salary of €17 million (about $23 million).
15. Ronaldo has endorsement deals with Nike, Armani, Tag Heuer, and Herbalife. His endorsement deal with Nike is worth a reported $1 million per year.
16. Ronaldo owns a yacht, a plane, and an array of luxury cars including a Ferrari 599 GTO, a Bentley Continental GTC, and a Lamborghini Aventador.
17. Ronaldo is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. He also knows some Italian and French.
18. In 2009, Ronaldo founded the Cristiano Ronaldo Foundation to help children in need.
19. Ronaldo has dated Russian model Irina Shayk and Portuguese television presenter Merche Romero. He is currently in a relationship with Georgina Rodriguez. The couple has a daughter named Alana Martina.
20. Ronaldo’s net worth is estimated to be $400 million.
Conclusion
As you can see, Ronaldo is an interesting and complex individual. He is more than just a great soccer player; he is a philanthropist, family man, and trendsetter. We hope that you have enjoyed learning some of the lesser-known facts about this incredible athlete. What was your favorite fun fact? Let us know in the comments below.