Cristiano Ronaldo’s amazing football story is filled with incredible achievements, memorable goals, and trophies from Europe’s top clubs. Starting at Sporting CP, he moved on to Manchester United, Real Madrid, and more. The Portuguese forward has had a career that many players can only dream of.
Now, as he finishes his international career with Portugal, the 41-year-old is focused on Al-Nassr and one last big goal: reaching 1,000 career goals.
With 985 goals already, Ronaldo is just 15 goals away from this milestone. As he enters this new phase, BBC Sport looked back on some key moments that made him one of football’s most famous players.
The friendly that changed everything
Ronaldo’s rise to fame started at Sporting CP, where he caught the eye of Manchester United.
A friendly match against United in Lisbon in 2003 was a turning point. Ronaldo showed off his skills, speed, and confidence, helping Sporting win 3-1 and providing two assists.
His amazing performance impressed United’s players, who urged manager Sir Alex Ferguson to sign him.
Just five days later, Ronaldo moved to Old Trafford for £12 million, kicking off a career transformation.
First Premier League title and rise to stardom
Although Ronaldo won the FA Cup in his first season at Manchester United, the 2006-07 season marked his rise among the world’s best.
He netted 17 goals in the Premier League, won the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, and helped United win their first league title since his arrival.
The next season was even better. Ronaldo scored 42 goals across competitions, won another Premier League title, and helped United win the Champions League, scoring in the final against Chelsea.
He also won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008.
The Porto wonder goal that won the Puskas Award
One unforgettable moment for Ronaldo at Manchester United happened in April 2009 against Porto in the Champions League quarter-finals.
With United needing a goal, Ronaldo struck a stunning shot from about 40 yards, finding the top corner and securing a 1-0 win.
This goal earned him the first-ever FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal of the year. It was one of his last big moments at Old Trafford before moving to Real Madrid for a record £80 million.
El Clasico winner delivers Copa del Rey glory
Ronaldo’s rivalry with Barcelona created many memorable moments, but his extra-time winner in the 2011 Copa del Rey final stands out.
Against a Barcelona team led by Lionel Messi, Ronaldo headed in Angel Di Maria’s cross to score the winning goal. This secured a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid, ending their seven-year wait for the Copa del Rey trophy.
It was also the first time Ronaldo scored the winning goal in a major cup final.
Ronaldo becomes Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer
In October 2015, Ronaldo hit another milestone by becoming Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer.
His goal against Levante in a 3-0 La Liga win raised his tally to 324 goals in just 310 games, passing Raul’s previous record.
He finished his Madrid career with an impressive 450 goals in 438 appearances, winning two La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies.
Euro 2016: The night Portugal made history
Despite his personal success, Ronaldo wanted to win on the international stage.
That dream came true in 2016 when Portugal won their first European Championship, beating hosts France 1-0 in the final.
Ronaldo had to leave the match in tears due to injury but cheered on his teammates from the sidelines, taking on a coaching role.
Portugal won with Eder’s extra-time goal. Ronaldo finished the tournament with three goals and three assists, earning a spot in the team of the tournament.
This victory is a highlight of his international career.
Fifth Ballon d’Or and Champions League dominance
Ronaldo won his fifth Ballon d’Or in 2017 after another fantastic season at Real Madrid.
He scored two goals in the Champions League final against Juventus as Madrid defended their title.
He also became the first player to score 100 Champions League goals, reaching this landmark with a hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the 2016-17 quarter-finals.
In 2018, Ronaldo helped Madrid win their third straight Champions League trophy, becoming the first player to win the competition five times.
The bicycle kick that left Juventus applauding
One of Ronaldo’s most stunning goals happened against Juventus in the 2018 Champions League quarter-finals.
Playing for Real Madrid, he executed an incredible overhead kick, soaring over the Juventus defense before scoring.
The goal amazed everyone in the stadium, with even Juventus fans applauding him.
This moment became one of the most replayed goals in Champions League history. Months later, Ronaldo joined Juventus, taking his career to another major European league.
Breaking the international goals record
Ronaldo kept making history with Portugal, breaking Ali Daei’s long-standing record for the most international goals in men’s football.
In September 2021, he scored two late headers against the Republic of Ireland, surpassing Daei’s record of 109 goals.
He finished his Portugal career with 146 goals in 234 appearances, becoming the record holder for most international appearances by a man.
His international achievements include the 2016 European Championship and the UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
The 900-goal milestone and the final challenge
In September 2024, Ronaldo became the first player to score 900 official senior career goals during Portugal’s win over Croatia.
He continued scoring after moving to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, adding to his incredible career that includes time at Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
Now with 985 career goals, Ronaldo is only 15 away from reaching 1,000, a mark no player has hit in official senior football.
His retirement from the national team marks the end of a 23-year journey that began in August 2003.
Though he won't play for his country anymore, his quest for football history continues at Al-Nassr. From the young winger who impressed Sir Alex Ferguson to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner who dominated Europe, Ronaldo has created a legacy filled with goals, trophies, records, and unforgettable moments.
With 1,000 goals in sight, one last chapter is yet to be written.
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