Soccer-Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo - The Straits Times

Nov 5 - Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday that he was retiring from international football.

Following are facts about Ronaldo's playing career.

Born February 5, 1985 in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.

• Joined Sporting's academy in 1997 after spells with Andorinha and Nacional.

• Made his senior debut in 2002 and scored five goals in 31 appearances before joining Manchester United in 2003.

• Signed for Manchester United in August 2003 as an 18-year-old.

• Won three consecutive Premier League titles from 2006-07 to 2008-09, one FA Cup, two League Cups, the 2007-08 Champions League and the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup.

• Scored 42 goals in all competitions in the 2007-08 season as United completed the Premier League and Champions League double.

• Won the Ballon d'Or in 2008, becoming Manchester United's fourth recipient of the award and the first since George Best in 1968.

• Joined Real Madrid in 2009 in what was then a world-record transfer, ending a six-year spell at Manchester United.

• Returned to Old Trafford for a second spell in 2021 before leaving by mutual agreement in 2022.

• Finished his United career with 145 goals in 346 appearances across two spells.

• Became Real Madrid's all-time top scorer with 451 goals in 438 competitive appearances after joining the club in 2009.

• Won two LaLiga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, two Spanish Super Cups, four Champions League titles, three UEFA Super Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups.

• Helped Real become the first team to win three consecutive Champions League titles in the modern era from 2016-18.

• Won four Ballon d'Ors during his nine-year spell in Madrid.

• Won successive Serie A titles in 2018-19 and 2019-20, one Coppa Italia and two Italian Super Cups.

• Was Serie A top scorer in 2020-21 with 29 league goals.

• Scored 101 goals in 134 appearances for Juve.

• Joined Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in January 2023.

• Captained Al Nassr to the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup title, scoring twice in the final against Al Hilal.

• Finished as Saudi Pro League top scorer in consecutive seasons and remains one of the league's leading attractions into his 40s.

• Made his senior debut against Kazakhstan in August 2003.

• Scored his first international goal at Euro 2004 and helped Portugal reach the final, where they lost to Greece.

• Captained Portugal from 2008 and became the country's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.

• Led Portugal to their first major international title at Euro 2016.

• Won the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

• Surpassed Iran striker Ali Daei's all-time men's record of 109 international goals.

• Featured in six World Cups and became the first player to score in six editions of the tournament.

• Announced he was retiring from international football in 2026 with 234 appearances and 146 goals, both world records in men's international football.

• Won five Ballons d'Or, five Champions League titles, one European Championship and two Nations League titles.

• Ronaldo became the first player to score 100 goals for four different clubs.

• Scored more than 980 official senior goals for club and country, the highest tally in men's football.

• Retires from international football as the men's game's record appearance-maker and goalscorer. REUTERS