Cristiano Ronaldo

Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's all-time record appearance holder (228 caps) and top scorer (143 goals), a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, and a five-time UEFA Champions League champion.

Ronaldo began his professional career at Sporting CP before joining Manchester United in 2003, where he developed into a world-class winger under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning the 2008 Champions League and his first Ballon d'Or. His record €94 million move to Real Madrid in 2009 ushered in an era of unprecedented success — four Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, and four more Ballons d'Or.

After stints at Juventus (two Serie A titles) and a return to Manchester United, Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in December 2022, winning the Saudi Pro League in 2026. For Portugal, he captained the team to their first major trophy at Euro 2016 and won two UEFA Nations Leagues (2019, 2025), while setting global records for international appearances and goals.