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Cristiano Ronaldo Turns 38: Here’s A Look At 38 Amazing Facts About The Portuguese Striker

February 5, 2023
Bharat Times

Last Update: February 05, 2023, 08:00 IST

Cristiano Ronaldo applauds fans on his Al-Nassr debut (Twitter)

Happy Birthday Cristiano Ronaldo: The former Real Madrid striker becomes the highest paid footballer in the history of the game after signing a lucrative contract with Al-Nassr FC

Happy Birthday Cristiano Ronaldo: Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest footballers of all time, made his international debut in 2003. The forward has so far scored 118 goals for his country. Ronaldo began his career in club football with Portuguese side Sporting CP. Ronaldo is currently playing for Saudi Arabia based football club Al-Nasr FC. The five-time Ballon d’Or signed a high-profile contract last December to be part of the Al-Nassr FC side.

Cristiano Ronaldo walks during his official unveiling as a new member of Al Nasr Soccer Club on January 3, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP file photo)

The former Real Madrid striker was born on this day in 1985 in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal to José Dinis Aveiro and Maria Dolores dos Santos Viveiros da Aveiro.

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As Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his 38th birthday today, we take a look at some of his records and 38 surprising facts about his all-time highest goal scorer.

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the highest paid footballer in the history of the game after signing a lucrative contract with Al-Nasr FC
  2. The signing saw Al-Nassr FC’s Instagram followers grow from 853k to over 10 million
  3. Ronaldo has 141 goals to his name, which is the highest goalscorer in the Champions League.
  4. Ronaldo also claims the top spot on the list for all-time Champions League appearances at 183.
  5. The Portuguese star has won three FIFA World Player of the Year awards so far
  6. He is also the highest goal scorer – 118 – in international football.
  7. The former Manchester United attacker is the only footballer to score in three Champions League finals
  8. He is also the most successful player in Champions League history with five titles to his name.
  9. Ronaldo, with 14 goals to his name, is the all-time leading goal scorer in Euro history
  10. Ronaldo became the first man to score in five different editions of the FIFA World Cup
  11. With eight goals to his name, Ronaldo is Portugal’s second highest goalscorer in the FIFA World Cup.
  12. Ronaldo is the second most successful player in terms of winning the Ballon d’Or, lifting the trophy five times.
  13. No other European footballer has more Ballon d’Or trophies than Ronaldo
  14. Ronaldo started his professional football career with Sporting CP
  15. He managed to find the back of the net four times for the Portuguese football club
  16. Ronaldo joined Manchester United in 2003
  17. Ronaldo ended his first stint at Manchester United in 2009 after scoring 118 goals for the Red Devils
  18. Ronaldo is also Real Madrid’s highest goal scorer with 450 strikes in his kitty
  19. In 2017, Ronaldo sold a replica of the 2013 Ballon d’Or trophy.
  20. He is the only player in the history of football to have scored at least one goal in the finals of nine consecutive major competitions.
  21. Ronaldo joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009 for a then world record fee of £80million
  22. At the end of the 2015/16 season, Ronaldo became the only footballer to score 50 goals in six consecutive seasons.
  23. He also has the most goals – 18 – in Madrid derby matches.
  24. Ronaldo also emerged as the fastest footballer to score 150, 200 and 300 La Liga goals
  25. Ronaldo has the most hat-tricks – 34 – in La Liga
  26. Ronaldo reunited with Manchester United in August 2021
  27. A galaxy has been named CR7 after Ronaldo.
  28. He is one of only three footballers to score in every minute of a match
  29. It is believed that Cristiano Ronaldo was named after Ronald Reagan, the former President of the United States of America.
  30. Ronaldo does not have any tattoos as he donates blood regularly
  31. Ronaldo has his own museum in his home town of Funchal in Madeira, Portugal.
  32. He is the most followed athlete on Twitter with 107 million followers
  33. Ronaldo is the most followed person on Instagram – 543 million
  34. He is also the most followed athlete on Facebook – 161 million
  35. Ronaldo managed to claim the Puskás Award for the first time in the 2008–09 season.
  36. Ronaldo also has the most international caps – 196 – among active footballers.
  37. Ronaldo launched his own brand CR7 in 2013
  38. Ronaldo is only the fourth footballer to be sculpted at London’s Madame Tussauds

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