Ronaldo's top 10 iconic moments (2024)

Ronaldo's top 10 iconic moments (1)

Cristiano Ronaldo is back at Manchester United.

Having scored a sack full of goals and amassed a load of trophies since leaving Old Trafford, the Portugal forward has made a sensational return back to the Red Devils.

BBC Sport takes a look at the Ronaldo's top 10 iconic moments and you can rank your favourites in order at the bottom of this page.

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Wins first Premier League title (2007)

"At the start, no one had even heard of Ronaldo, but by the end, everyone knew about him."

That was the view of former United defender Mikael Silvestre, who played against Sporting Lisbon in a pre-season friendly before the start of the 2003-04 season.

Ronaldo was persuaded to join the club by Sir Alex Ferguson after a dazzling performance in that friendly - and went on to play 292 games for United, winning the first of his three Premier League titles in 2007, as well as the Champions League, one FA Cup and two League Cups.

Puskas award-winning goal (2009)

Ronaldo scored 118 goals for Manchester United, including a sensational screamer against Porto in the Champions League, picking the ball 40 yards out before rocketing a shot into the top corner.

The effort won the inaugural Fifa Puskas award for goal of the year.

United reached their second successive Champions League final, but were beaten by Barcelona in Ronaldo's last match before he sealed an £80m move to Real Madrid that summer.

Scores winner in Copa del Rey final (2011)

Ronaldo's top 10 iconic moments (2)

Ronaldo started to pay off the world record fee when he scored the winning goal for Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final against bitter rivals Barcelona.

Ronaldo rose at the far post to power in a trademark header from Angel di Maria's cross and deliver his first trophy for the club.

Becomes Real's all-time leading scorer (2015)

Ronaldo's goalscoring record during his nine seasons at Real was astonishing, with 450 goals in just 438 games.

He became the club's all-time leading scorer with a goal against Levante in October 2015, surpassing Raul who had scored 323 times.

The previous 2014-15 campaign had been the most prolific of his club career, scoring 61 times in 54 games at an incredible rate of, an average, a goal every 76 minutes.

Wins Euros with Portugal (2016)

Ronaldo finally tasted success on the international stage with Portugal, winning the 2016 European Championship with victory over France in the final in Paris.

But it was a bittersweet occasion for the captain as he was carried off injured in tears after just 25 minutes, but he came on to lift the trophy.

Wins fifth Ballon d'Or (2017)

Ronaldo's top 10 iconic moments (3)

In 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, Ronaldo claimed the Ballon d'Or award as the best player in the world.

The latter came after a stellar 2016-17 season in which he spearheaded Real to the La Liga title and victory in the Champions League final, where he scored twice in a 4-1 win over Juventus.

A century of Champions League goals (2018)

Ronaldo became the first player to become a member of the Champions League's 100 club, later joined by old rival Lionel Messi.

His two goals against Paris St-Germain in the last 16 took him past the century mark and he remains the competition's all-time top scorer, with 134 goals in 176 games.

Bicycle kick against Juventus (2018)

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane's reaction said it all.

Hand to his head, a look of disbelief on his face at what he had just seen, he turned and bellowed his approval. Ronaldo had leapt into the air before acrobatically firing into the corner of the net with an incredible bicycle kick.

The goal in the Champions League quarter-final was so good that even Juventus fans stood up to applaud the player, who would later go on to join their club.

First player to claim five Champions League triumphs (2018)

Ronaldo won two La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies at Real Madrid, but it was in Europe's elite club competition where he became a true legend.

He had already won the Champions League in 2008 with United, but went on to win it four more times with Real. The first was in 2014 before a remarkable three times in a row in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to become the first player to win the competition five times.

Equals men's international goals record (2021)

Ronaldo reached another famous landmark earlier this year when his two penalties in Portugal's 2-2 European Championship draw with France took him to 109 international goals.

That figure is a joint world record for men's football held with Ali Daei, who scored 109 goals for Iran between 1993 and 2006.

Reaching the landmark further helped cement the 36-year-old's standing as an all-time great.

Rank Ronaldo's most iconic moments

Rank Cristiano Ronaldo's most iconic career moments

Ronaldo's top 10 iconic moments (4)

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Ronaldo's top 10 iconic moments (7)

Ronaldo's top 10 iconic moments (2024)

FAQs

What is Ronaldo's most iconic moment? ›

2018 World Cup hat-trick

Ronaldo scored three goals in a group-stage Iberian derby at the 2018 World Cup in Russia to make him the oldest-ever player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup. His final goal, which brought the game level at 3-3 in the 88th minute, was a sumptuous trademark Ronaldo free kick.

What great things did Ronaldo do? ›

He has helped families pay medical bills, donated to conservation efforts, and sent aid to victims of natural disasters. Much of the most notable moments of Ronaldo's charity work happened during his time at Real Madrid. From 2009 to 2018, he scored 451 goals, becoming the club's all-time leading goalscorer.

What is Ronaldo most remembered for? ›

Cristiano Ronaldo (born February 5, 1985, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal) is a Portuguese football (soccer) forward who is one of the greatest players of his generation. The winner of five Ballon d'Or awards, he is among the sport's top goal scorers.

What makes Ronaldo so special? ›

Unrelenting Work Ethic. Cristiano Ronaldo's work ethic is legendary. His relentless pursuit of perfection is seen in his rigorous training regimen and his commitment to maintaining peak physical condition.

What is Ronaldo so famous for? ›

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo has won five Ballon d'Or awards, a record three UEFA Men's Player of the Year Awards, and four European Golden Shoes, the most by a European player.

Who is Ronaldo's best friend? ›

Cristiano Ronaldo is not only a great football player but also a friend to many people. During his time at Real Madrid, he developed a close relationship with Marcelo and his family.

What are 5 facts about Ronaldo? ›

Other Facts

First male player in history to score a goal in five different World Cups. Portugal's all-time top international goalscorer. Winner of the Ballon d'Or footballer of the year award five times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), and the European Golden Shoe four times (2007-08, 2010-11, 2013-14 and 2014-15).

Why did Ronaldo sell his Ballon d'Or? ›

Cristiano Ronaldo has four Ballon d'Or trophies after being named the Best Player in the World. But why did he sell one of them? According to Marca, Ronaldo, 32, sold one of the glittering golden trophies for over $705,000 to raise money for charity Make-A-Wish in an auction.

Will Ronaldo play the 2026 World Cup? ›

The next World Cup may be three years away, but Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly plans to take part in the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. He has apparently told Al Nassr that he'd like to extend his contract with the club until at least the beginning of 2027, when he is expected to hang up his boots.

Has Ronaldo won a World Cup? ›

Portugal has not won it with Ronaldo, but made it to the 4th position in 2006, the second best historical performance of Portugal after finishing 3rd in 1966. Ronaldo has participated in 5 world cups but has never managed to score in the knockout stages of the tournament.

Why is Ronaldo Favourite? ›

But it's not just about his footballing brilliance; it's also about his mental fortitude, his ability to set personal discipline, his respect for his physical form, and a professionalism that's universally acknowledged by his managers.

How fast is Ronaldo in mph? ›

Cristiano Ronaldo was clocked at 33.95 km/h against Spain. That's the fastest of any player at the FIFA World Cup….. Cristiano Ronaldo is known for his speed on the field, and he has been recorded running at a top speed of around 21.1 miles per hour (33.6 kilometers per hour).

Who is faster, Messi or Ronaldo? ›

If we compare Messi and Ronaldo's average speed, we can see that Messi is more involved in the game. Messi has an average speed of 23 km/h and Ronaldo has an average speed of 22 km/h. They are close, but Messi has a slight edge.

Why is Ronaldo considered the greatest of all time? ›

While Messi's dribbling and playmaking abilities are exceptional, Ronaldo's consistency, longevity, and impact on the game make a strong case for him being considered one of the greatest players of all time.

How was Ronaldo noticed? ›

His journey to stardom had begun. Ronaldo's performance at Sporting Lisbon was outstanding. His skills, speed, and precision on the field made him a favorite among fans and teammates alike. He was soon noticed by Manchester United, one of the leading football clubs in England.

Is Ronaldo the most famous person in the world right now? ›

In February 2021, Ronaldo became the first person in the world to reach 500 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. As of March 2024, he had 903 million.

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