Cristiano at 41: Two Decades, Five Leagues, and a Legacy of Record-Breaking Football

Last Updated:
From iconic goals to peak athleticism even at 41 — a visual look back at Cristiano Ronaldo’s extraordinary journey
Cristiano at 41: Two Decades, Five Leagues, and a Legacy of Record-Breaking Football
Sir Alex Ferguson greets Cristiano Ronaldo as the young Portugese player signs for Manchester united at the Carrington Training Ground, Carrington on August 12, 2003 in Manchester, England.
1/1
Sir Alex Ferguson greets Cristiano Ronaldo as the young Portugese player signs for Manchester united at the Carrington Training Ground, Carrington on August 12, 2003 in Manchester, England. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United beats Keith Gillespie (left) and Riccardo Scimeca (right) of Leicester City during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on April 13, 2004 in Manchester, England.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United beats Keith Gillespie (left) and Riccardo Scimeca (right) of Leicester City during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on April 13, 2004 in Manchester, England. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goal for Portugal during the 2006 World Cup, Group 3 qualification match between Portugal and Slovakia at the Estadio da Luz on June 4, 2005 in Lisbon, Portugal.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goal for Portugal during the 2006 World Cup, Group 3 qualification match between Portugal and Slovakia at the Estadio da Luz on June 4, 2005 in Lisbon, Portugal. Credits: Getty images
Wayne Rooney of England is shown Red card and sent off by Referee Horacio Elizondo as Cristiano Ronaldo looks on during the FIFA World Cup Finals 2006 Quarter Final match between England and Portugal at Arena Aufschalke on July 1, 2006 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
1/1
Wayne Rooney of England is shown Red card and sent off by Referee Horacio Elizondo as Cristiano Ronaldo looks on during the FIFA World Cup Finals 2006 Quarter Final match between England and Portugal at Arena Aufschalke on July 1, 2006 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney of Manchester United pose during a First Team Training Session at Carrington Training Ground on August 7 2007 in Manchester, England.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney of Manchester United pose during a First Team Training Session at Carrington Training Ground on August 7 2007 in Manchester, England. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium on May 21, 2008 in Moscow, Russia.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium on May 21, 2008 in Moscow, Russia.  Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United scores his team's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on April 25, 2009 in Manchester, England.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United scores his team's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on April 25, 2009 in Manchester, England. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Real Madrid watches a friendly basketball between Spain and the USA with Irina Shayk at La Caja Magica on August 22, 2010 in Madrid, Spain.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Real Madrid watches a friendly basketball between Spain and the USA with Irina Shayk at La Caja Magica on August 22, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo arrives with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez at the Audiencia Provincial de Madrid court on January 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. The Juventus footballer is accused of failing to pay tax on his image rights between 2011 and 2014.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo arrives with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez at the Audiencia Provincial de Madrid court on January 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. The Juventus footballer is accused of failing to pay tax on his image rights between 2011 and 2014. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his sides opening goal during the la Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium on October 7, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his sides opening goal during the la Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium on October 7, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. Credits: Getty images
Irina Shayk and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid pose during the red carpet arrivals for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012 on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland.
1/1
Irina Shayk and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid pose during the red carpet arrivals for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012 on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring their fourth goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio da Luz on May 24, 2014 in Lisbon, Portugal.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring their fourth goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio da Luz on May 24, 2014 in Lisbon, Portugal.  Credits: Getty images
1/1
 Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo during the Serie A match between Sampdoria v Juventus, in Genova.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo during the Serie A match between Sampdoria v Juventus, in Genova. Credits: Getty images
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo (7) prepares shooting free kick during the Serie A football match between Juventus and Cagliari on 03/11/2018 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy.
1/1
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo (7) prepares shooting free kick during the Serie A football match between Juventus and Cagliari on 03/11/2018 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus during the Serie A match between Fiorentina and Juventus at Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy on 1 December 2018.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus during the Serie A match between Fiorentina and Juventus at Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy on 1 December 2018. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus FC greets his supporter during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Juventus at Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma, Italy on 24 August 2019,
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus FC greets his supporter during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Juventus at Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma, Italy on 24 August 2019, Credits: Getty images
Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo attends a training session at Cidade do Futebol training camp in Oeiras, Portugal, on October 8, 2021, on the eve of their friendly match against Qatar and as part of the team's preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying football match against Luxembourg.
1/1
Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo attends a training session at Cidade do Futebol training camp in Oeiras, Portugal, on October 8, 2021, on the eve of their friendly match against Qatar and as part of the team's preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying football match against Luxembourg. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League match between Club Atlético de Madrid and Manchester United at the Estadio Metropolitano on February 23, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League match between Club Atlético de Madrid and Manchester United at the Estadio Metropolitano on February 23, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal walks off the pitch after the team's defeat during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Morocco and Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal walks off the pitch after the team's defeat during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Morocco and Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after winning the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Taawoun and Al-Nassr at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium on December 30, 2023 in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after winning the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Taawoun and Al-Nassr at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium on December 30, 2023 in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.  Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal controls the ball during the Nations League Quarter-finals match between Portugal and Denmark at José Alvalade Stadium, Lissabon, Portugal on March 23, 2025.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal controls the ball during the Nations League Quarter-finals match between Portugal and Denmark at José Alvalade Stadium, Lissabon, Portugal on March 23, 2025. Credits: Getty images
Joao Felix of team Al-Nassr FC celebrates scoring their third goal with Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al-Nassr FC during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Okhdood at Al Awwal Park on December 27, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
1/1
Joao Felix of team Al-Nassr FC celebrates scoring their third goal with Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al-Nassr FC during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Okhdood at Al Awwal Park on December 27, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Credits: Getty images
Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al-Nassr FC during the Saudi Pro League game between Al Nassr and Al Taawoun at Al Awwal Park on January 26, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
1/1
Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al-Nassr FC during the Saudi Pro League game between Al Nassr and Al Taawoun at Al Awwal Park on January 26, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Credits: Getty images
Sign up for Open Magazine's ad-free experience
Enjoy uninterrupted access to premium content and insights.