Last updated: November 5, 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese footballer, the captain of Saudi club Al-Nassr and, by Bloomberg’s count, the sport’s first billionaire player. On Nov. 5, 2026, the 41-year-old said he was retiring from Portugal’s national team, ending a 23-year international career with 234 appearances and 146 goals, both world records. “The day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” he said in an Instagram video. The exit follows a falling-out with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus. He will keep playing for Al-Nassr and is expected to finish his club career at the end of this season, AP and Reuters reported.
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Quick facts
Name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Born: Feb. 5, 1985, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal (age 41)
Club: Al-Nassr (Saudi Pro League), since January 2023; contract through 2027
Former clubs: Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus
Portugal: 234 appearances, 146 goals (2003–2026), both world records
Major international titles: Euro 2016; Nations League 2019 and 2025
Net worth: About $1.4 billion (Bloomberg Billionaires Index, October 2025)
Social following: Most-followed person on Instagram (about 679 million followers, fall 2026)
Business: CR7 brand (fragrances, underwear, footwear, water), hotels, gyms, a YouTube channel
Next milestone: 1,000 career goals (985 as of Nov. 5, 2026, per AP/Reuters)
Who is Cristiano Ronaldo?
Ronaldo was born on the Portuguese island of Madeira, the youngest of four children in a poor family. As a kid he played for the local amateur club Andorinha, and his mother let him put school on the back burner to chase football. He moved to Lisbon as a boy to join Sporting CP’s academy, and Manchester United signed him as a teenager.
He became one of the best players of his era at United, Real Madrid and Juventus before returning briefly to Manchester United. He made his Portugal debut in August 2003, at 18, and captained the team to its first major trophy at Euro 2016.
In January 2023 he moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr. Saudi state media put his salary at around $200 million a year, making him the highest-paid player in the sport’s history, CNN reported. “This contract is unique, because I’m unique,” he said at the time. In June 2025 he signed a two-year extension reportedly worth more than $400 million, tax-free.
He has long said his edge is mental, not physical. “I think I’m good, but I think my main strength is my mind,” he once said. The Profile wrote about that mindset in its 2022 Dossier on him.
Go deeper: Read The Profile Dossier on Cristiano Ronaldo, on how he uses hate as fuel.
Career timeline
Feb. 5, 1985: Born in Funchal, Madeira.
August 2003: Makes his Portugal debut at 18.
2016: Signs a long-term deal with Nike.
July 2016: Captains Portugal to the Euro 2016 title.
2019: Wins the first Nations League with Portugal.
January 2023: Joins Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
August 2024: Launches the YouTube channel UR · Cristiano, which gains 19.7 million subscribers in 24 hours, a Guinness World Record.
June 2025: Signs a two-year Al-Nassr extension through 2027; wins a second Nations League with Portugal.
October 2025: Bloomberg names him football’s first billionaire.
Summer 2026: Plays his sixth World Cup; Portugal lose to eventual champions Spain in the last 16.
Sept. 24, 2026: Plays his last game for Portugal, a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales.
September 2026: Leaves Portugal’s camp after being told he won’t start against Denmark; fined and suspended for 30 days.
Nov. 5, 2026: Announces his international retirement.
The business of CR7
The Al-Nassr deal: His June 2025 extension included a tax-free salary, performance bonuses, a $30 million signing bonus and private jet access, Newsweek reported. He also reportedly received a 15% stake in the club, Fortune reported.
Nike: He signed a 10-year deal with Nike in 2016. Der Spiegel, citing a draft contract, reported a basic annual fee of €16.2 million (about $17.8 million), Bloomberg reported in 2019.
Other sponsors: Deals with companies including Armani and Castrol have added more than $175 million to his fortune, according to Bloomberg via Fortune. He has also partnered with Binance, Tag Heuer, Samsung, Unilever and Louis Vuitton.
The CR7 brand: He owns CR7, which sells fragrances, underwear, footwear and bottled water. He has also invested in a hotel chain, gyms and a media group, though Bloomberg says they’re small drivers of his wealth.
Career salary: Bloomberg calculated he earned more than $550 million in salary from 2002 to 2023.
The audience
Instagram: About 679 million followers as of fall 2026, more than any other person. In November 2022 he became the first person to reach 500 million followers.
YouTube: UR · Cristiano gained 19,729,827 subscribers in its first 24 hours in August 2024, a Guinness World Record. It had about 83.5 million subscribers by October 2026.
X: More than 100 million followers.
In the news
Nov. 5, 2026: Ronaldo announced his international retirement in an Instagram video. Portugal’s federation said it wouldn’t “let this farewell take place without due tribute,” BBC Sport reported.
September 2026: After being an unused substitute against Norway, his first time unused in a competitive Portugal game since 2008, and being told he wouldn’t start against Denmark, he left the national team camp. He said Jesus had twice “broke his word.” The federation fined him and suspended him for 30 days, BBC Sport reported.
Nov. 2, 2026: Al-Nassr rested him for a 6-2 AFC Champions League win over Pakhtakor in Uzbekistan.
The rivalry: Lionel Messi finished his Argentina career with a farewell match last month, AP and Reuters reported.
Quotes
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team.” — Instagram video, Nov. 5, 2026
“I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it.” — Nov. 5, 2026
“This contract is unique, because I’m unique, so this is normal.” — on joining Al-Nassr, 2023
“Your love makes me strong, your hate makes me unstoppable.”
Controversies / criticism
The Jesus fallout: His September walkout led to a fine and a 30-day suspension from Portugal’s federation.
World Cup form: His performances at the 2026 World Cup drew media criticism, with observers questioning whether he was still a force at international level, BBC Sport reported.
Saudi Arabia: His move to the Saudi Pro League put him at the center of the debate over the Gulf’s growing influence in global sport, Newsweek noted.
Net worth & money
Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index put Ronaldo’s net worth at about $1.4 billion in October 2025, making him football’s first billionaire player. Most of it comes from salary, led by his Al-Nassr contracts, plus Nike and other endorsements. Forbes reported in June 2026 that Messi had also become a billionaire, according to Fortune.
FAQ
Did Cristiano Ronaldo retire?
He retired from Portugal’s national team on Nov. 5, 2026. He is still playing club football for Al-Nassr.
How old is Cristiano Ronaldo?
He was born on Feb. 5, 1985, so he is 41.
How many goals has Ronaldo scored for Portugal?
146 in 234 appearances, both world records.
What club does Ronaldo play for?
Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. His contract runs through 2027, and he’s expected to end his club career after this season.
How much is Cristiano Ronaldo worth?
About $1.4 billion, according to Bloomberg’s October 2025 estimate.
Why did Ronaldo fall out with Portugal’s coach?
Jorge Jesus left him on the bench against Norway and said he wouldn’t start against Denmark, so Ronaldo left the team’s camp in September 2026.
Further reading
The Profile Dossier: Cristiano Ronaldo, the Footballer Who Uses Hate as Fuel — The Profile
Cristiano Ronaldo announces his international retirement — AP
Ronaldo retires from Portugal duty — BBC Sport
Ronaldo becomes first football billionaire — Bloomberg
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