One of the greatest soccer players of the modern soccer era, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro is one of the living legends and the most successful players of all time. Born in Portugal in 1985, he grew up in a modest household alongside his parents and siblings. His father was a kit man at one of the football clubs, so Cristiano’s early passion for the sport received a great support from him. Ronaldo was named after Ronald Reagan, a former US President, whom his father admired. In his early teenage years, Ronaldo joined Sporting CP’s youth academy and made his professional debut as a skilled and talented striker, quickly attracting public attention.
In 2003 he became a player of Manchester United and received an opportunity to develop into a global-scale star. After winning his first Ballon d’Or, he transferred to Real Madrid for a record-high fee at that time, this way starting a historic period in which he broke a number of scoring records and collected multiple titles. After spending some time at Juventus, he returned to Manchester United and continued his triumphal career abroad. For over a decade he was considered to be one of the world's two top forwards, along with another soccer superstar Leo Messi, and their lasting personal competition emphasized the rivalry between two leading Spanish clubs, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Led by Ronaldo as a captain, Portugal’s national team achieved high places in major international success and rose in European rankings of national soccer teams. His private life has always been a focus of interest. He has 4 children, including Cristiano Jr., Eva and Mateo, and a newborn daughter, Alana Martina, whose mom is his current girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez. Cristiano Ronaldo is adored by his numerous fans for his philanthropy, dedication to fitness, charisma and loyalty to his nation.
