Cristiano Ronaldo, the renowned footballer, is making waves in the NFT world again by launching his second series on Binance. The collection, titled "Forever CR7: The GOAT," features digital tokens representing significant moments from his illustrious career. Although the possibility of meeting Ronaldo might be enticing, I personally wouldn't choose to invest in this. Of […]
From the sunny streets of Funchal, Madeira to the bustling stadiums of Europe and Asia, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro's football career has been nothing short of mesmerizing.
Born on February 5, 1985, Ronaldo, often simply referred to as "CR7", began his football journey with humble origins at the local club CF Andorinha. By 10, he had already showcased enough prowess to be signed by one of Madeira's premier clubs, Nacional. But the real turning point came in 1997 when he joined the esteemed Sporting Lisbon academy.
In 2003, Manchester United spotted his potential and brought him to the Premier League, marking the onset of a journey filled with silverware. Within his first year, Ronaldo tasted success with the FA Cup and would later guide United to three league titles, the UEFA Champions League crown, and a FIFA Club World Cup victory.
While his club success was on the rise, Ronaldo made waves internationally. Since debuting for Portugal in 2003, he has donned the national colors 198 times, netting 122 goals — a record. Under his captainship from 2008, Portugal reached new heights, clinching the coveted European Championship in 2016.
In a record-breaking transfer in 2009, Ronaldo's talents took him to Real Madrid for an astonishing 94 million euros. The Santiago Bernabeu became his playground, with the Portuguese forward winning 15 major trophies and becoming the club's all-time top scorer with 450 goals. Notably, he etched his name in history books with the most hat-tricks in a single La Liga season during 2014/15.
Juventus welcomed Ronaldo in 2018, with the transfer ringing in at 117 million euros. After a stint in Italy, he made a nostalgic return to Manchester United in 2021. However, the journey took another twist in November 2022 when Ronaldo parted ways with United, only to surprise the football world by joining Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr the following month.
Off the pitch, Ronaldo's accolades are equally glittering. A recipient of five Ballon d'Or trophies, four European Golden Shoes, and five FIFA Player of the Year awards, his prowess is undeniable. Moreover, his contribution to Portuguese culture and sports was recognized in 2014 with the Order of Prince Henry.
With earnings and popularity skyrocketing each year — even topping the "Forbes" list in 2016 and 2017 — Ronaldo's journey is a testament to talent, hard work, and an unyielding drive to succeed.