The 2024 FIFA World Cup was the end of an era. This winter in Qatar marked the final time we will see the two greatest players of their generation on football’s grandest stage. And those two stories couldn’t have had a more contrasting ending.
While Lionel Messi finally climbed his final peak, leading Argentina to World Cup glory for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Heading into the tournament, th be former Real Madrid superstar was on the front pages of newspapers across the world thanks to his explosive interview with Piers Morgan and subsequent release from Manchester United.
Despite that, CR7’s Portugal were still earmarked as one of the favorites for glory by OddsChecker, which compares football odds and offers.
In the end, however, the 2016 European Champions tournament ended at the quarterfinal stage by underdogs Morocco.
The pair’s contrasting performances this winter have secured Messi’s legacy as the greatest footballer that has ever lived, while Ronaldo will have to settle for being simply one of the best.
There are worse things to be remembered as though, and in honor of the great man, here is a full rundown of the life and times of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Striving for greatness
Soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo is the father of five kids after he and his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez lost one of their twins during childbirth. His oldest son, Cristiano Jr., was born in 2010 and is believed to have been conceived through a surrogate mother.
Ronaldo has two other children, twins Eva and Mateo, who were also born via surrogate in 2017.
Ronaldo’s fourth child, Alana Martina, was born in 2017 to his then-girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez. Ronaldo and Rodriguez have been in a long-term relationship and are now engaged.
In addition to his role as a father, Ronaldo is also known for his love of sports and fitness.
He is an avid fan of soccer, but he also enjoys other sports such as boxing and golf.
Ronaldo is known for his strict training regimen and is considered one of the fittest athletes in the world.
Ronaldo is also known for his love of luxury cars and owns several high-end models, including a Lamborghini Aventador and a Bugatti Chiron. He is also a collector of rare and expensive watches.
Overall, Ronaldo is a dedicated athlete and father who enjoys living a luxurious and active lifestyle.
Despite his many accomplishments, he remains down-to-earth and is known for his charitable work and philanthropy.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a name that is almost synonymous with greatness in the world of football.
His career has spanned over two decades and has seen him score over 800 goals for club and country, win multiple trophies, and set several records.
His performances have seen him accumulate an estimated net worth of a staggering $500 million, making him one of the wealthiest athletes in the world.
And that could be set to rise should a rumored megamoney move to Saudi Arabia come to fruition.
In addition to his success on the field, Ronaldo has also built a successful business empire. He has endorsement deals with major brands such as Nike, Armani, and Herbalife, and he also owns several hotels and restaurants.
Some of Ronaldo’s most notable endorsement deals include:
• Nike: Ronaldo has a long-standing partnership with Nike and has appeared in numerous campaigns for the sports apparel giant. In 2016, Ronaldo signed a lifetime deal with Nike, which is believed to be the largest endorsement deal in the history of soccer.
• Armani: Ronaldo has modeled for Armani’s Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans campaigns.
• Herbalife: Ronaldo is a brand ambassador for Herbalife, a company that sells nutritional supplements and weight management products.
• DAZN: Ronaldo has endorsed DAZN, a streaming service that offers live and on-demand sports content.
• TAG Heuer: Ronaldo has appeared in campaigns for TAG Heuer, a luxury watches and accessories brand.
The player also owns many businesses. He has invested in hotels and restaurants, including the Pestana CR7 hotels in Lisbon, Madrid, and Funchal. Ronaldo also owns a line of CR7 branded clothing and accessories, which are sold in stores and online.
Overall, Ronaldo’s endorsement deals and business ventures have helped him to build a successful business empire and solidify his status as a global brand.
Soccer career accomplishments
The Portuguese footballer was born on February 5th, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
From a young age, Ronaldo had a passion for football, and he joined his local club, Andorinha, at the age of 8. The club’s director, Antonio Correia, was so impressed by Ronaldo’s skills that he signed him to the club.
At the age of 12, he was spotted by Sporting Lisbon and signed to their youth team. After two years in the youth setup, the youngster was promoted to the senior team and made his debut in 2002.
In his first season, he scored three goals in 25 appearances and was awarded the Portuguese Footballer of the Year award.
Ronaldo’s success continued, and in 2003 he was signed by Manchester United for a record fee of £12 million.
During his time in Manchester, he scored 84 goals in 196 appearances and helped the team win three Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, two League Cups, and an FA Cup.
In 2009, Ronaldo transferred to Real Madrid for a world record fee of £80 million. During his time in Madrid, he became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, scoring 450 goals in 438 appearances.
He also won two La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League titles, and a host of other trophies.
He then moved to Juventus in 2018, where he has continued to add goals to his already impressive career.
He also added two Serie A winners’ medals to his already overflowing collection, as well as a Coppa Italia medal. He would then return to Manchester in the summer of 2024, becoming the club’s top scorer in his first season back at Old Trafford.
As well as all of his successes on the field, Ronaldo is also well known for his charitable work. He has donated millions of dollars to various causes, including disaster relief and education for children in Portugal and Brazil.
In terms of records and individual honors, Ronaldo has achieved just about everything a footballer could hope for.
He is the all-time top scorer for both the Portuguese national team and Real Madrid, and also holds the record for the most goals scored in a single Champions League season.
He is also the only player to have won the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and UEFA Champions League titles.
Overall, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time, and his career is a testament to his hard work and dedication.
