At 40, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy the laws of time. Over 900 goals, a biological age estimated at 29, six European Championships contested, five Champions League titles… the numbers are staggering. But behind this record-breaking machine lies the story of a boy from Madeira, unwanted at birth, who turned his wounds into motivation and weaknesses into an inexhaustible strength… a true inspiration for many.

The Origins of a Survivor

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on 5 February 1985 in Funchal, the capital of Madeira. The fourth child in a modest family, he shared a small room with his three siblings. His father, José Dinis, worked as a kit man at the local club Andorinha, where Cristiano first kicked a ball.

One anecdote perfectly illustrates football’s omnipresence in his life : on the day of his baptism, the ceremony was delayed because Andorinha had a match 35 kilometres away. Football set the rhythm of his life before he even knew it.

His mother, Maria Dolores, later admitted she had considered terminating the pregnancy due to financial constraints. “I tried, but God didn’t allow it,” she confessed. Cristiano discovered this at 14. Far from breaking him, this revelation forged his determination to prove he deserved his place in the world.

A child obsessed with winning

From a very young age, Ronaldo displayed an uncompromising character. His godfather recounts that at eight, before a game he was sure they would lose, Cristiano feigned a toothache to avoid playing, already unwilling to accept defeat.

At eleven, frail yet tireless, he ran through the streets of his neighbourhood with weights on his ankles. Neighbours thought him “crazy”; he was preparing to become an extraordinary athlete.

At 12, his move to Sporting Portugal was a trial: leaving his island and family, he faced ridicule for his Madeiran accent. Isolated, he packed to return home, but his mother persuaded him to stay. Those months of solitude built resilience that would become his hallmark.

At 15, a heart condition required laser surgery. Days later, he ran faster than ever. Another weakness transformed into strength.

The birth of CR7

In 2003, a slender teenager arrived at Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson denied him his favourite number 28, assigning him the iconic “7” previously worn by Best, Cantona, and Beckham. That number changed everything : Ronaldo became CR7, not just a player, but a global brand in the making.

His early days divided opinion: compulsive dribbler, often seen as selfish, he frustrated teammates. Yet his progress was meteoric. Obsessive training, gym work, analysing his own matches, he turned every criticism into fuel.

In 2008, he won his first Ballon d’Or. But at Madrid, from 2009, he reached another dimension. He reinvented his game : fewer dribbles, more efficiency; a lethal goal-scoring machine. Between 2009 and 2018, he scored 450 goals in 438 matches for Real—a supernatural pace.

The obsession with perfection

Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a footballer; he is a method. He doesn’t drink, follows a strict diet, and sleeps not eight hours at a stretch but five 90-minute naps, inspired by sports sleep specialists.

“Mental strength is as important as physical strength. There is no room for slackening,” exemplifies his daily routine. His biological age, estimated at 28.9 while he is 40, is the clearest proof.

His discipline borders on obsession : over 3,000 sit-ups per day in his early years, meticulous gym work, constant medical monitoring. This cult of detail has made him a global benchmark in athletic preparation.

The record-breaking machine

The statistics speak for themselves:

• First player to reach 900 career goals (2024)
• Only footballer to score over 100 goals with four clubs : Manchester United (145), Real Madrid (450), Juventus (101), Al-Nassr (50+).
• Absolute record-holder in the Champions League : 140 goals and five titles.
• With Portugal : 223 caps, 141 goals, six Euros, two major trophies (Euro 2016, Nations League 2019).

Every record broken becomes a step toward the impossible, a true challenge. Today, he is targeting 1,000 goals…once an inconceivable number !

The man behind the legend

Behind the relentless competitor is a devoted son. In 2020, when his mother suffered a stroke, he immediately left Juventus to be with her in Madeira. Since then, she often lives nearby, quietly witnessing his journey.

He has never denied his roots. His favourite dish ? The Madeiran espetada, which he enjoys without fail. His island has honoured him with a museum, a statue, a hotel, and even an airport in his name.

Less publicised, his philanthropic work reveals another side: significant donations to children’s hospitals, support for disaster victims, funding medical research, and continuous aid for disadvantaged children through his foundation.

The eternal quest for recognition

Despite five Ballons d’Or, Ronaldo remains obsessed with proving himself. “I am the most complete player that has ever existed,” he asserts. Some see arrogance; he sees a truth forged through work.

At Manchester United, he shocked by highlighting outdated infrastructure. At Real, he constantly demanded new challenges. Every criticism became an extra challenge; every doubt, fuel. His sometimes polarising image stems from this unquenchable thirst for recognition.

An extraordinary legacy

In 2025, Ronaldo is still decisive in Saudi Arabia, breaking the record for goals in a Saudi Pro League season (35)… but his influence goes far beyond the pitch.

With over 650 million Instagram followers, he is the world’s most followed personality. His CR7 brand extends from clothing to hotels, even his own bottled water, Ursu9. He is no longer just a player; he is a global enterprise.

From the unwanted child of Madeira to the most influential footballer of modern history, his journey embodies a truth : talent alone is not enough, but relentless hard work can push human limits.

Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a living legend. He has become the symbol of pure will, turning the impossible into the inevitable. And with every goal, he etches his name further into the eternity of sport.