TOP 10 Spectacular Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo

 

Short answer: Cristiano Ronaldo holds the men’s international records for goals (146) and appearances (234), has won five Ballon d’Or awards and five Champions League titles, and recorded football’s highest jump, 2.93 m, against Manchester United in 2013. Sources are UEFA, FIFA, the Ballon d’Or organisers and Wikipedia, as of 1 November 2026.

The name Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most famous personalities in the world. The Portuguese striker is one of the best players in football history.

He started his career at Sporting CP. His career boomed in Manchester United, and he reached its peak in Real Madrid, becoming one of the best footballers ever and setting every possible and impossible record at a club and personal level. He later moved to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

He holds the men’s record for international goals, 146 for Portugal (UEFA, correct as of 7 October 2026). Cristiano Ronaldo won numerous trophies during his career.

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Cristiano Ronaldo facts

10 Spectacular Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo

Here are 10 spectacular facts about Ronaldo that you should know, as of 1 November 2026.

 

  1. Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 146 goals for Portugal, and the all-time leading appearance-maker with 234 games. Lionel Messi is second on 126 goals for Argentina (UEFA, correct as of 7 October 2026).

 

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo won the first FIFA Puskás Award, for the best goal of 2009. It was a 40-yard strike for Manchester United against FC Porto in the 2008/09 Champions League quarter-final (FIFA; Wikipedia).

 

  1. In June 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo became the fourth footballer after Steven Gerrard, Pelé and David Beckham to be represented as a waxwork at Madame Tussauds London (Wikipedia).

 

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  1. Ronaldo holds the record for the highest recorded jump in football history, 2.93 m, which he achieved heading a goal for Real Madrid against Manchester United in the 2013 Champions League round of 16 (Wikipedia).

  1. Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017) and holds the all-time record of 18 nominations. Only Messi, with eight wins, has more (Ballon d’Or organisers).

 

  1. Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times, once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid, and is the first player to score at six World Cups (UEFA).

 

  1. As a teenager, Ronaldo was diagnosed with tachycardia, a heart condition that threatened to end his football career (Wikipedia).

 

  1. Ronaldo has said that he does not drink alcohol. His father died in 2005 of an alcoholism-related liver condition, aged 52. Ronaldo has no tattoos because they would prevent him from donating blood, which he does several times a year (Wikipedia).

  1. In November 2012, Ronaldo sold the Golden Boot he won in 2011 for €1.5 million and gave the money to fund schools for children in Gaza (Wikipedia).

 

  1. In December 2012, Ronaldo joined FIFA’s “11 for Health” programme to raise awareness among kids of how to steer clear of conditions including drug addiction, HIV, malaria and obesity (Wikipedia; FIFA).

 

Sources

Facts 9, 8, 7, 4, 3, 2 and 1 come from Wikipedia (the current article and revision 697581028 for facts 3 and 2); facts 10, 6 and 5 come from UEFA and the Ballon d’Or organisers.

FAQ

How many goals has Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Portugal?

146 goals in 234 appearances, both men’s international records. UEFA published the figures in September 2026, correct as of 7 October 2026. Lionel Messi is second with 126 goals for Argentina.

How many Ballon d’Or awards has Cristiano Ronaldo won?

Five: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. Lionel Messi has won eight. Ronaldo also holds the record of 18 Ballon d’Or nominations.

How high can Cristiano Ronaldo jump?

Wikipedia states that he holds the record for the highest recorded jump in football history, 2.93 m, in the 2013 Champions League round of 16 against Manchester United.

Why does Cristiano Ronaldo have no tattoos?

According to Wikipedia, tattoos would prevent him from donating blood, which he does several times a year.

How many Champions League titles has Cristiano Ronaldo won?

Five: one with Manchester United and four with Real Madrid, according to UEFA.