Cristiano Ronaldo's Record-Breaking Soccer Career

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo’s rise to fame has been nothing short of meteoric. Despite having been born into poverty in Portugal, he overcame all odds to break numerous records and become the highest-paid soccer player in the world. Here’s everything you need to know about Cristiano Ronaldo's record-breaking soccer career!

Cristiano Ronaldo - Who is he?

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He has broken countless records, and in 2016 he became the first athlete ever to surpass 100 million followers on social media.

Ronaldo made his debut as a professional soccer player at the age of 16 and signed with Manchester United soon after. He is currently under contract with Real Madrid, where he has won four UEFA Champions League titles and one La Liga title.

Cristiano's Childhood

Growing up in Portugal, Cristiano first began playing soccer at a young age and was quickly recruited to play for one of Portugal's biggest youth soccer clubs. His talent was recognized and he was eventually awarded a place on Sporting Lisbon's junior team. He moved up to the senior team in 2002 and earned his place as their star player, captain, and all-time leading scorer by 2006. At this point, he decided it was time to leave Sporting Lisbon for the club that offered him the most money, Manchester United.

Early Life

Born in Portugal on Feb. 5, 1985, Cristiano Ronaldo grew up in a working-class family and quickly learned the value of hard work at an early age. He made his professional debut with Manchester United at the age of 18 and won three Premier League titles with the team before moving to Real Madrid in 2009. In addition to being one of the world's best soccer players, he is also known for his philanthropy and charitable work around the world.

Sporting Beginnings

Born in Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo began his soccer career at age 8. He impressed scouts at a tournament and moved to Sporting Lisbon’s academy, where he continued to thrive as a prolific scorer. When he was 16, Manchester United bought him for $19 million, making him the world's most expensive teenager. He debuted for the team on August 27th, 2003 against Bolton Wanderers and scored just seven minutes into the game. His first hat trick came two weeks later on September 11th, 2003 against Middlesbrough.

Sporting Hero

Cristiano Ronaldo is a soccer player from Portugal who currently plays for the Italian club Juventus and serves as captain of the Portuguese national team. He made his debut in 2002 at the age of 18 with Sporting CP. He joined Manchester United in 2003 and remained there for six seasons before transferring to Real Madrid in 2009, where he spent the next nine years. In 2017, he became one of only three players to win four European Cups (and two consecutive) with two different teams.

Big Money Moves

In 2003, 17-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo was signed by Manchester United for $17 million. Now that he is 30 years old and has won many prestigious awards, his worth may have increased to more than $300 million. Even though Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, he still has made time to be with his family. He married Irina Shayak on Saturday, June 12th, 2010 and they have three children together - twins Eva Maria & Mateo (born November 6th, 2010) and daughter Alana Martina (born June 8th, 2017).

International Success

1. Ronaldo joined Manchester United in 2003 as a trainee. He has since gone on to win numerous accolades, including the FIFA Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. 

2. In 2010, he moved to Spanish club Real Madrid and won his first UEFA Champions League and Primera División titles the following year. 3. In 2013, Ronaldo helped Real Madrid capture their 10th European Cup by scoring two goals in the final against Atletico Madrid. 4. On July 11, 2018, Cristiano signed with Italian club Juventus F.C., where he will be looking to compete for more international success and add to his record-breaking soccer career.

Club Successes

Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the best soccer players in the world, and for good reason. He was named FIFA Player of the Year for four years straight from 2008 to 2012. In total, he has won a whopping five Ballon d'Ors (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016), two Golden Shoes (2009 and 2010), two UEFA Club Footballer of the Year awards (2009 and 2017) plus three Premier League titles with Manchester United.

Personal Life

Born in 1985, Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese soccer player who has played for clubs like Sporting CP, Manchester United, and Real Madrid. He has set many records during his career and is one of the highest-earning athletes in the world. He was born to Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and Jose Dinis Aveiro (an athlete). When he was 11, his mother died of an alcohol overdose which impacted him deeply. He had only met her twice before she passed away. After he left Portugal at age 18, there were no family members with whom he kept contact on a regular basis other than his father and grandmother.

Current Player, Best Player Ever, and More Records

In 2016, Cristiano became the first player to win the UEFA European Championship twice with two different teams. This year, he has also won his fourth Ballon d'Or. He is also the first player in history to score two goals in a final of the Champions League, winning three titles and becoming its all-time top scorer. No one else has scored more than twice in a Champions League final. The only other person to have achieved this feat was Zinedine Zidane. His four Champions League wins is a record that no other footballer has ever matched.