Citrus
Sweet orange (Citrus × sinensis cultivar)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Subclass:	Rosidae
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Subfamily:	Aurantioideae
Tribe:	Citreae
Genus:	Citrus L.
Species and hybrids
Important species: Citrus aurantifolia – Key lime Citrus maxima – Pomelo Citrus medica – Citron Citrus reticulata – Mandarin orange Important hybrids: Citrus × aurantium – Bitter orange Citrus × latifolia – Persian lime Citrus × limon – Lemon Citrus × limonia – Rangpur Citrus × paradisi – Grapefruit Citrus × sinensis – Sweet orange Citrus × tangerina – Tangerine See also below for other species and hybrids.
Synonyms
Eremocitrus Microcitrus and see text

Citrus is a common term and genus (Citrus) of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar (Burma) and the Yunnan province of China.^[1][2][3] Citrus fruit has been cultivated in an ever-widening area since ancient times; the best-known examples are the oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and limes.

The generic name originated in Latin, where it specifically referred to the plant now known as Citron (C. medica). It was derived from the ancient Greek word for cedar, κέδρος (kédros). Some believe this was because Hellenistic Jews used the fruits of C. medica during Sukkot (Feast of the Tabernacles) in place of a cedar cone,^[4] while others state it was due to similarities in the smell of citrus leaves and fruit with that of cedar.^[5] Collectively, Citrus fruits and plants are also known by the Romance loanword agrumes (literally "sour fruits").

The taxonomy and systematics of the genus are complex and the precise number of natural species is unclear, as many of the named species are hybrids clonally propagated through seeds (by apomixis), and there is genetic evidence that even some wild, true-breeding species are of hybrid origin.^[6] Cultivated Citrus may be derived from as few as four ancestral species. Natural and cultivated origin hybrids include commercially important fruit such as the oranges, grapefruit, lemons, some limes, and some tangerines.

Research suggests that the closely related genus Fortunella (kumquats), and perhaps also Poncirus and the Australian Microcitrus and Eremocitrus, should be included in Citrus; most botanists now classify Microcitrus and Eremocitrus as part of the genus Citrus.^[7] Two additional genera: Triphasia and Clymenia are likewise very closely related, and bear hesperidium fruits, but are not considered part of the Citrus genus. At least one, Clymenia, will hybridize with kumquats and some limes.

Description[link]

Slices of various citrus fruits

These plants are large shrubs or small trees, reaching 5–15 m tall, with spiny shoots and alternately arranged evergreen leaves with an entire margin. The flowers are solitary or in small corymbs, each flower 2–4 cm diameter, with five (rarely four) white petals and numerous stamens; they are often very strongly scented. The fruit is a hesperidium, a specialised berry, globose to elongated, 4–30 cm long and 4–20 cm diameter, with a leathery rind or "peel" called a pericarp. The outermost layer of the pericarp is an "exocarp" called the flavedo, commonly referred to as the zest. The middle layer of the pericarp is the mesocarp, which in citrus fruits consists of the white, spongy "albedo", or "pith". The innermost layer of the pericarp is the endocarp. The segments are also called "liths", and the space inside each lith is a locule filled with juice vesicles, or "pulp". From the endocarp, string-like "hairs" extend into the locules, which provide nourishment to the fruit as it develops.^[8][9]

Citrus fruits are notable for their fragrance, partly due to flavonoids and limonoids (which in turn are terpenes) contained in the rind, and most are juice-laden. The juice contains a high quantity of citric acid giving them their characteristic sharp flavour. The genus is commercially important as many species are cultivated for their fruit, which is eaten fresh, pressed for juice, or preserved in marmalades and pickles.

They are also good sources of vitamin C and flavonoids. The flavonoids include various flavanones and flavones.^[10]

Cultivation[link]

Persian Limes in a grocery store.

Citrus trees hybridise very readily – depending on the pollen source, plants grown from a Persian Lime's seeds can produce fruit similar to grapefruit. Thus all commercial citrus cultivation uses trees produced by grafting the desired fruiting cultivars onto rootstocks selected for disease resistance and hardiness.

The colour of citrus fruits only develops in climates with a (diurnal) cool winter. In tropical regions with no winter at all, citrus fruits remain green until maturity, hence the tropical "green oranges". The Persian Lime in particular is extremely sensitive to cool conditions, thus it is not usually exposed to cool enough conditions to develop a mature colour. If they are left in a cool place over winter, the fruits will change colour to yellow.

The terms "ripe" and "mature" are usually used synonymously, but they mean different things. A mature fruit is one that has completed its growth phase. Ripening is the term used to describe the changes that occur within the fruit after it is mature to the beginning of decay. These changes usually involve starches converting to sugars, a decrease in acids and a softening and change in the fruit's colour.^[11]

Citrus fruits are non-climacteric and respiration slowly declines and the production and release of ethylene is gradual.^[12] The fruits do not go through a ripening process in the sense that they become "tree ripe." Some fruits, for example cherries, physically mature and then continue to ripen on the tree. Other fruits, like pears, are picked when mature but before they ripen, then continue to ripen off the tree. Citrus fruits pass from immaturity to maturity to over-maturity while still on the tree. Once they are separated from the tree, they will not increase in sweetness or continue to ripen. The only way change may happen after being picked is that they will eventually start to decay.

With oranges, colour cannot be used as an indicator of ripeness because sometimes the rinds turn orange long before the oranges are ready to eat. Tasting them is the only way to know whether or not they are ready to eat.

Mediterranean Mandarin (Citrus × deliciosa plantation, Son Carrió (Mallorca)

Citrus trees are not generally frost hardy. Mandarin Oranges (C. reticulata) tend to be the hardiest of the common Citrus species and can withstand short periods down to as cold as −10 °C, but realistically temperatures not falling below −2 °C are required for successful cultivation. Tangerines, tangors and yuzu can be grown outside even in regions with more marked sub-zero degrees in winter, although this may affect fruit quality. A few hardy hybrids can withstand temperatures well below freezing, but do not produce quality fruit. Lemons can be commercially grown in cooler-summer/moderate-winter coastal Southern California, because sweetness is neither attained nor expected in retail lemon fruit. The related Trifoliate Orange (Citrus trifoliata) can survive below −20 °C; its fruit are astringent and inedible unless cooked but a few better-tasting cultivars and hybrids have been developed (see citranges).

Leaf of Citrus tree

The trees thrive in a consistently sunny, humid environment with fertile soil and adequate rainfall or irrigation. Abandoned trees in valleys may suffer, yet survive, the dry summer of Central California's Inner Coast Ranges. At any age citrus grows well enough with infrequent irrigation in partial shade, but the fruit crop is smaller. Though broadleaved, they are evergreen and do not drop leaves except when stressed. The stems of many varieties have large sharp thorns. The trees flower in the spring, and fruit is set shortly afterward. Fruit begins to ripen in fall or early winter months, depending on cultivar, and develops increasing sweetness afterward. Some cultivars of tangerines ripen by winter. Some, such as the grapefruit, may take up to eighteen months to ripen.

Major commercial citrus growing areas include southern China, the Mediterranean Basin (including southern Spain), South Africa, Australia, the southernmost United States, Mexico and parts of South America. In the United States, Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas are major producers, while smaller plantings are present in other Sun Belt states and in Hawaii.

Orangery of the Botanical Garden in Leuven (Belgium)

As ornamental plants[link]

Citrus trees grown in tubs and wintered under cover were a feature of Renaissance gardens, once glass-making technology enabled sufficient expanses of clear glass to be produced. An orangery was a feature of royal and aristocratic residences through the 17th and 18th centuries. The Orangerie at the Palace of the Louvre, 1617, inspired imitations that were not eclipsed until the development of the modern greenhouse in the 1840s. In the United States the earliest surviving orangery is at the Tayloe House, Mount Airy, Virginia. George Washington had an orangery at Mount Vernon.

Some modern hobbyists still grow dwarf citrus in containers or greenhouses in areas where it is too cold to grow it outdoors. Consistent climate, sufficient sunlight, and proper watering are crucial if the trees are to thrive and produce fruit. Compared to many of the usual "green shrubs", citrus trees better tolerate poor container care. For cooler winter areas, limes and lemons should not be grown, since they are more sensitive to winter cold than other citrus fruits. Hybrids with kumquats (× Citrofortunella) have good cold resistance.

Pests and diseases[link]

Citrus canker is caused by the gammaproteobacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis

Citrus plants are very liable to infestation by aphids, whitefly and scale insects (e.g. California red scale). Also rather important are the viral infections to which some of these ectoparasites serve as vectors such as the aphid-transmitted Citrus tristeza virus which when unchecked by proper methods of control is devastating to citrine plantations.

European brown snails (Helix aspersa) can be a problem in California, though laying female Khaki Campbell and other Mallard-based ducks can be used for control.

The foliage is also used as a food plant by the larvae of Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species such as the Geometridae Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria) and Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata), the Arctiidae Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia), H. eridanus, H. icasia and H. indecisa, many species in the family Papilionidae (swallowtail butterflies), and the Black-lyre Leafroller Moth ("Cnephasia" jactatana), a tortrix moth.

Since 2000, the Citrus Leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella) has been a pest in California,^[13] boring meandering patterns through leaves.

In eastern Australia, the Bronze-orange Bug (Musgraveia sulciventris) can be a major pest of citrus trees, particularly grapefruit. In heavy infestations it can cause flower and fruit drop and general tree stress.

Major producer regions

Production[link]

According to UN 2007 data, Brazil, China, the United States, Mexico, India, and Spain are the world's largest citrus-producing countries. Of these, Brazil is the world's largest producers of oranges, China produces most of the world's mandarins, India is the world's largest producer of lemons and limes, and the United States produce the most grapefruit.

Uses[link]

Culinary[link]

Wedges of pink grapefruit, lime, and lemon, and a half orange (clockwise from top)

Many citrus fruits, such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, and clementines, are generally eaten fresh. They are typically peeled and can be easily split into segments. Grapefruit is more commonly halved and eaten out of the skin with a spoon.^[14] There are special spoons (grapefruit spoons) with serrated tips designed for this purpose. Orange and grapefruit juices are also very popular breakfast beverages. More acidic citrus, such as lemons and limes, are generally not eaten on their own. Meyer Lemons can be eaten 'out of hand' with the fragant skin; they are both sweet and sour. Lemonade or limeade are popular beverages prepared by diluting the juices of these fruits and adding sugar. Lemons and limes are also used as garnishes or in cooked dishes. Their juice is used as an ingredient in a variety of dishes; it can commonly be found in salad dressings and squeezed over cooked meat or vegetables. A variety of flavours can be derived from different parts and treatments of citrus fruits. The rind and oil of the fruit is generally very bitter, especially when cooked, and so is often combined with sugar. The fruit pulp can vary from sweet and tart to extremely sour. Marmalade, a condiment derived from cooked orange and lemon, can be especially bitter, but is usually sweetened to cut the bitterness and produce a jam-like result. Lemon or lime is commonly used as a garnish for water, soft drinks, or cocktails. Citrus juices, rinds, or slices are used in a variety of mixed drinks. The colourful outer skin of some citrus fruits, known as zest, is used as a flavouring in cooking; the white inner portion of the peel, the pith, is usually avoided due to its bitterness. The zest of a citrus fruit, typically lemon or an orange, can also be soaked in water in a coffee filter, and drunk.

Medical[link]

Citrus juice also has medical uses; lemon juice is used to relieve the pain of bee stings. Oranges were historically used for their high content of vitamin C, which prevents scurvy. Scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency, and can be prevented by having 10 milligrams of vitamin C a day. An early sign of scurvy is fatigue. If ignored, later symptoms are bleeding and bruising easily. British sailors were given a ration of citrus fruits on long voyages to prevent the onset of scurvy, hence the British nickname of Limey.

Pectin is a structural heteropolysaccharide contained in the primary cell walls of plants. The extract of it from Citrus Fruits is used in medicine such as Tylenol for the gelling effect of it when broken down.^{[citation needed]} Limes and lemons as well as oranges and grapefruits are among the highest in this level.^[15]

After consumption, the peel is sometimes used as a facial cleanser. A peel of lemons or orange is commonly used as a means to moisten medical cannabis when stored with it. Before the development of fermentation-based processes, lemons were the primary commercial source of citric acid.

Citrus fruit juices, such as orange, lime and lemon, may be useful for lowering the risk factors for specific types of kidney stones. Orange juice may help prevent calcium oxalate stone formation. Lemons have the highest concentration of citrate of any citrus fruit, and daily consumption of lemonade has been shown to decrease the rate of stone formation.^[16]

Citrus fruits have been observed to be used by Capuchin (Cebus capucinus) monkeys in Costa Rica as topical balms to protect against insects as well as an astringent and anti-fungal agent.^{[citation needed]}

List of citrus fruits[link]

Citrons (Citrus medica) for sale in Germany

Red Finger Lime (Citrus australasica), a rare delicacy from Australia

The genus Citrus has been suggested to originate in Southeast Asia. Prior to human cultivation, it consisted of just a few species, namely:

• Citrus aurantifolia – Key Lime, Omani Lime, from India
• Citrus maxima – Pomelo (pummelo, shaddock), from the Malay Archipelago
• Citrus medica – Citron, from India
• Citrus reticulata – Mandarin orange, from China
• Citrus trifoliata – Trifoliate orange, from Korea and adjacent China (often separated as Poncirus)
• Australian limes
  • Citrus australasica – Finger lime (sometimes separated in Microcitrus)
  • Citrus australis – Australian round lime (sometimes separated in Microcitrus)
  • Citrus glauca – Desert Lime (sometimes separated in Eremocitrus)

and 3 other Microcitrus

• Kumquats, 4-5 species from East Asia ranging into Southeast Asia (often separated as Fortunella)
• Papedas, including
  • Citrus halimii – limau kadangsa, limau kedut kera, from Thailand and Malaya
  • Citrus indica – Indian wild orange, from the Indian subcontinent^[17]
  • Citrus macroptera from Indochina and Melanesia^[17]
  • "Khasi Papeda" – Citrus latipes from Assam, Meghalaya, Burma^[17]

Hybrids and cultivars[link]

Sweetie or Oroblanco is a pomelo-grapefruit hybrid.

The Etrog, or Citron, is central to the ritual of the Jewish Sukkot festival. Many varieties are used for this purpose (including the Yemenite variety pictured).

Clementines (Citrus × clementina) have thinner skins than oranges.

Mikan (Citrus × unshiu), also known as satsumas

Sweet oranges (Citrus × sinensis) are used in many foods. Their ancestors were probably pomelos and mandarin oranges.

A batch of kaffir limes (Citrus × hystrix)

Lemons (Citrus × limon), whole and in halves

Sorted by parentage. As each is the product of (at least) two parent species, they are listed multiple times.

Citrus maxima-based

• Amanatsu, natsumikan – Citrus × natsudaidai (C. maxima × unknown)
• Cam sành (C. reticulata × C. × sinensis)
• Grapefruit – Citrus × paradisi (C. maxima × C. × sinensis)
• Imperial lemon – C. × limon × C. × paradisi
• Kinnow (C. × nobilis × C. × deliciosa)
• Kiyomi (C. sinensis × C. × unshiu)
• Lemon (probably C. maxima × C. medica)
• Minneola tangelo (C. reticulata × C. × paradisi)
• Orangelo, Chironja (C. × paradisi × C. × sinensis)
• Oroblanco, Sweetie (C. maxima × C. × paradisi)
• Sweet orange – Citrus × sinensis (probably C. maxima × C. × reticulata)
• Tangelo – Citrus × tangelo (C. reticulata × C. maxima or C. × paradisi)
• Tangor – Citrus × nobilis (C. reticulata × C. × sinensis)
• Ugli (C. reticulata × C. maxima or C. × paradisi)

Citrus medica-based

• Buddha's hand – Citrus medica var. sarcodactylus
• Citron varieties with sour pulp: Diamante citron, Florentine citron, Greek citron and Balady citron
• Citron varieties with sweet pulp: Corsican citron and Moroccan citron.
• Etrog, a group of citron cultivars (the term originally just means "citrus fruit")
• Fernandina – Citrus × limonimedica (probably C. medica × C. maxima × C. medica)
• Ponderosa lemon (probably C. medica × C. maxima × C. medica)
• Lemon (probably C. medica × C. maxima)
• Yemenite citron – a pulpless citron.

Citrus reticulata-based

• Bergamot orange – Citrus × aurantium ssp. bergamia or Citrus × bergamia
• Bitter orange, Seville Orange – Citrus × aurantium
• Blood orange – Citrus × sinensis cultivars
• Calamondin, Calamansi – Citrus reticulata × Citrus japonica
• Cam sành (C. reticulata × C. × sinensis)
• Chinotto – Citrus × aurantium var. myrtifolia or Citrus × myrtifolia
• ChungGyun – Citrus reticulata cultivar^{[verification needed]}
• Clementine – Citrus × clementina
• Cleopatra Mandarin – Citrus × reshni
• Dekopon – Citrus reticulata cv. 'Siranui' (ChungGyun × Ponkan)
• Daidai – Citrus × aurantium var. daidai or Citrus × daidai
• Grapefruit – Citrus × paradisi (C. maxima × C. × sinensis)
• Hermandina – Citrus reticulata cv. 'Hermandina'
• Imperial lemon (C. maxima × C. medica × C. × paradisi)
• Kinnow, Wilking (C. × nobilis × C. × deliciosa)
• Kiyomi (C. sinensis × C. × unshiu)
• Laraha – ''C. × aurantium ssp. currassuviencis
• Mediterranean mandarin, Willow Leaf – Citrus × deliciosa
• Meyer lemon, Valley Lemon – Citrus × meyeri (C. maxima × C. medica × C. × paradisi or C. × sinensis)
• Michal mandarin – Citrus reticulata cv. 'Michal'
• Mikan, Satsuma – Citrus × unshiu
• Naartjie (C. Citrus reticulata C. Citrus nobilis)
• Nova mandarin, Clemenvilla
• Orangelo, Chironja (C. × paradisi × C. × sinensis)
• Oroblanco, Sweetie (C. maxima × C. × paradisi)
• Ponkan – Citrus reticulata cv. 'Ponkan'
• Rangpur, Lemanderin, Mandarin Lime – Citrus × limonia (C. reticulata × C. maxima × C. medica)
• Sweet orange – Citrus × sinensis (probably C. maxima × C. × reticulata)
• Tangelo – Citrus × tangelo (C. reticulata × C. maxima or C. × paradisi)
• Tangerine – Citrus × tangerina
• Tangor – Citrus × nobilis (C. reticulata × C. × sinensis)
• Ugli (C. reticulata × C. maxima or C. × paradisi)
• Yuzu – Citrus × junos (C. reticulata × C. × ichangensis)

Other/Unresolved

• Alemow, Colo – Citrus × macrophylla
• Djeruk limau – Citrus × amblycarpa
• Gajanimma, Carabao Lime – Citrus × pennivesiculata
• Hyuganatsu (Hyuganatsu pumelo) – Citrus tamurana
• Ichang lemon, Ichang Papeda – Citrus × ichangensis
• Imperial lemon – C. × limon × C. × paradisi
• Iyokan, anadomikan – Citrus × iyo
• Kabosu – Citrus × sphaerocarpa
• Kaffir lime, makrut – Citrus × hystrix
• Limetta, Sweet Lemon, Sweet Lime, mosambi – Citrus × limetta
• Palestine sweet lime – Citrus × limettioides Tanaka
• Persian lime, Tahiti Lime – Citrus × latifolia
• Pompia ("Citrus mostruosa", a nomen nudum)
• Rough lemon – Citrus × jambhiri Lush.
• Sakurajima komikan orange
• Shekwasha, Hirami Lemon, Taiwan Tangerine – Citrus × depressa
• Sudachi – Citrus × sudachi
• Sunki, Suenkat – Citrus × sunki
• Tachibana orange – Citrus × tachibana (Mak.) Tanaka
• Volkamer lemon – Citrus × volkameriana

For hybrids with kumquats, see × Citrofortunella. For hybrids with the Trifoliate Orange, see citrange.

See also[link]

	Book: Citrus
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

Food portal

• Japanese citrus
• Juice vesicles
• Fruit anatomy

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

• Andrews, A.C. (1961): Acclimatization of citrus fruits in the Mediterranean region. Agricultural History 35(1): 35-46.
• de Araújo, E. Freitas; de Queiroz, L. Paganucci & Machado, M.A. (2003): What is Citrus? Taxonomic implications from a study of cp-DNA evolution in the tribe Citreae (Rutaceae subfamily Aurantioideae). Organisms Diversity & Evolution 3(1): 55-62. doi:10.1078/1439-6092-00058 (HTML abstract)
• Nicolosi, E.; Deng, Z.N.; Gentile, A.; La Malfa, S.; Continella, G. & Tribulato, E. (2000): Citrus phylogeny and genetic origin of important species as investigated by molecular markers. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 100(8): 1155-1166. doi:10.1007/s001220051419 (HTML abstract)

Further reading[link]

• Calabrese, Francesco (2002): Origin and history. In: Dugo, Giovanni & Di Giacomo, Angelo (eds.) (2002): Citrus. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-415-28491-0
• Ellis, R.H.; Hong, T.D. & Roberts, E.H. (1985): Chapter 64. Rutaceae. In: Handbook of Seed Technology for Genebanks (Volume II: Compendium of Specific Germination Information and Test Recommendations). International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, Rome, Italy. HTML fulltext
• Frison, E.A. & Taher, M.M. (eds.) (1991): FAO/IBPGR Technical Guidelines for the Safe Movement of Citrus Germplasm. FAO, IOCV, IPGRI. PDF fulltext
• International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) (1999): Descriptors for Citrus (Citrus spp.). PDF fulltext
• Janick, Jules (2005): Purdue University Tropical Horticulture Lecture 32: Citrus
• Luro, F.; Laigret, F.; Bové, J.M. & Ollitrault, P. (1995): RFLP analysis of cytoplasmic and nuclear genomes used for citrus taxonomy. In: Mandarines - développements scientifiques récents, résumés oraux et posters: 12-13. CIRAD-FLHOR, San Nicolao, France. HTML abstract
• Molina, A.B.; Roa, V.N.; Bay-Petersen, J.; Carpio, A.T. & Joven, J.E.A. (eds.) (2000): Citrus, Proceedings of a regional workshop on disease management of banana and citrus through the use of disease-free planting materials held in Davao City, Philippines, 14–16 October 1998. INIBAP. PDF fulltext
• Sackman. Douglas Cazaux (2005): Orange Empire: California and the Fruits of Eden.
• University of California Division of Agricultural Sciences (UC-DAS) (1967–1989): The Citrus Industry. HTML fulltext of Vol. 1, 2, & Vol. 5, Chapter 5

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Citrus

Wikispecies has information related to: Citrus

• Citrus at National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
• ITIS
• Citrus at the Encyclopedia of Life
• Effects of pollination on Citrus plants Pollination of Citrus by Honey Bees
• Citrus Research and Education Center of IFAS (largest citrus research center in world)
• Citrus Variety Collection by the University of California
• Citrus (Mark Rieger, Professor of Horticulture, University of Georgia)
• Porcher Michel H. et al. (1995 - 2020). "Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (M.M.P.N.D) - A Work in Progress". School of Agriculture and Food Systems, Faculty of Land & Food Resources, The University of Melbourne. Australia. http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Citrus.html. 
• Fundecitrus - Fund for Citrus Plant Protection is an organization of citrus Brazilian producers and processors.
• Citrus - taxonomy, fruit anatomy at GeoChemBio
• Home Citrus Growers

v t e Citrus Important species Citron Key lime Persian lime Mandarin orange Pomelo Important cultivars Bitter orange Clementine Grapefruit Lemon Lime Orange Rangpur Tangelo Tangerine Naartjie Other topics Citrus production List of citrus diseases Orangery Book:Citrus Category:Citrus

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo playing for Real Madrid
Personal information
Full name	Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Date of birth	(1985-02-05) 5 February 1985 (age 27)
Place of birth	Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	Real Madrid
Number	7
Youth career
1993–1995	Andorinha
1995–1997	Nacional
1997–2002	Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002–2003	Sporting CP	25	(3)
2003–2009	Manchester United	196	(84)
2009–	Real Madrid	101	(112)
National team‡
2001–2002	Portugal U17	9	(6)
2003	Portugal U20	5	(1)
2002–2003	Portugal U21	6	(3)
2004	Portugal U23	3	(1)
2003–	Portugal	89	(32)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:00, 13 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:31, 26 May 2012

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro,^[2] OIH, (born 5 February 1985),^[3] commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team. Ronaldo became the most expensive footballer in history after moving from Manchester United to Real Madrid in a transfer worth £80 million (€93.9 million/$131.6 million). In addition, his contract with Real Madrid, in which he is paid €12 million per year, makes him one of the highest-paid footballers in the world,^[4] and his buyout clause is valued at €1 billion as per his contract.^[5]

Ronaldo began his career as a youth player for Andorinha, where he played for two years, before moving to C.D. Nacional. In 1997, he made a move to Portuguese giants Sporting Clube de Portugal. Ronaldo's precocious talent caught the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who signed him for £12.24 million (€15 million) in 2003. The following season, Ronaldo won his first club honour, the FA Cup. He also played at Euro 2004 with Portugal and scored his first international goal in the opening game of the tournament against Greece, in addition to helping Portugal reach the final. He was featured in the UEFA Euro All-Star Team of this competition.

Ronaldo was the first player to win all four main PFA and FWA awards, doing so in 2007. He was third in the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year award and second in the 2007 Ballon d'Or award. In 2008, Ronaldo won the Champions League with United, was named best forward and player of the tournament and was the competition's top goalscorer as well as winning the European Golden Shoe, becoming the first winger to do so, and topping the Premier League Golden Boot award. He won three of the four main PFA and FWA trophies, only missing the PFA Young Player of the Year, and was named the FIFPro, World Soccer, Onze d'Or,^[6][7][8] and the FIFA World Player of the Year, in addition to becoming Manchester United's first Ballon d'Or winner in 40 years.^[9] Ronaldo holds the distinction of being the first player to win the FIFA Puskás Award, in 2009, an honour handed by FIFA to the best goal of the year. He scored that goal from 40 yards out against Porto in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final match, while playing for Manchester United.^[10] Three-time Ballon d'Or winner Johan Cruyff said in an interview on 2 April 2008, "Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, who were two brilliant and great players in the history of United."^[11] He was second in the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year award and also second in the 2009 Ballon d'Or award.

After moving to Real Madrid in 2009, in his second season, Ronaldo became the highest goalscorer in a season in the history of Real Madrid with 53 goals, surpassing the club's previous high of 49 by Ferenc Puskás. During this season Ronaldo broke the record of most goals ever scored in a season in La Liga with 40, surpassing Telmo Zarra's and Hugo Sánchez's mark (38 goals) established in 1951 and 1990, respectively. Ronaldo also broke Zarra's record of most goals per minute, with a goal scored every 70.7 minutes. The newspaper Marca, the official deliverer of the Pichichi Trophy (the top La Liga goalscorer award), claimed that Ronaldo scored 41 goals (Marca assigned one more goal to Ronaldo than La Liga, which attributed it to Pepe). By doing so, he won the European Golden Shoe award once again, becoming the first player to win the trophy in two different championships. He was third in the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award and second in the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or. On 24 March 2012, with the first of two goals scored in the match against Real Sociedad, Ronaldo became the fastest La Liga player to score 100 goals in the league.^[12] Ronaldo officially broke his previous record of 40 goals in a La Liga season in the 2011–12 season; by doing so, he became first player to reach 40 goals in a single season in two consecutive years in any of the top European leagues. On 13 May 2012, the last matchday, Ronaldo scored against Mallorca which made him the first player ever to score against every team in a single season in La Liga.^[13] He finished the season with 60 goals in every competition, breaking the Real Madrid record he had set the previous season.

Ronaldo has been described as a skillful winger who will take on any defender with his dribbling and pace; he hits his free kicks with power and pace, and is able to beat defenders off the dribble and cross the ball. He is able to score with his head and feet.^[14]

Early life[link]

Ronaldo was born in Santo António, a neighbourhood of Funchal, Madeira, the youngest child of Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, a cook, and José Dinis Aveiro, a municipal gardener.^[15] His second given name "Ronaldo" was chosen after then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan, who was his father's favourite actor. He has one older brother, Hugo, and two older sisters, Elma and Liliana Cátia.^[3] His great-grandmother Isabel da Piedade was from Cape Verde.^[16]

Club career[link]

Early career[link]

At the age of eight, Ronaldo played for amateur team Andorinha, where his father was the kit man. In 1995, Ronaldo signed with local club Nacional, and, after a title-winning campaign, he went on a three-day trial with Sporting CP, who subsequently signed him for an undisclosed sum.^[17]

Sporting Clube de Portugal[link]

Ronaldo joined Sporting's other youth players who trained at the Academia Sporting, the club's football academy, in Alcochete. He became the only player ever to play for Sporting's under-16, under-17, under-18, B-team, and the first team, all within one season.^[18] He scored two goals in his league debut on 7 October 2002, which Sporting CP won 3–0 against Moreirense, while featuring for Portugal in the 2002 European Under-17 Championship.^[19]

At the age of 15 Ronaldo was diagnosed with a racing heart, a condition that might have forced him to give up playing football. The Sporting staff were made aware of the condition and Ronaldo's mother gave her authorisation for him to go into hospital. While there, he had an operation in which a laser was used to cauterise the area of his heart that was causing the problem. The surgery took place in the morning and Ronaldo was discharged from hospital by the end of the afternoon; he resumed training only a few days later.^[20]

In November 2002, Ronaldo was invited to Arsenal's training ground, London Colney to meet manager Arsène Wenger and his coaching staff.^[21] Wenger, who was interested in signing the midfielder had arranged to meet Ronaldo's representatives, Formation (who suggested the player originally to Gérard Houllier, then Liverpool's manager) in the subsequent months to discuss a transfer arrangement.^[22] However he came to the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2003, when Sporting defeated United 3–1 in the inauguration of the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon. Ronaldo's performance impressed the Manchester United players, who urged Ferguson to sign him.^[23]

Manchester United[link]

2003–2006[link]

Ronaldo playing against Chelsea in April 2006.

Ronaldo became Manchester United's first-ever Portuguese player when he signed for €15 million^[24] (£12.24 million) after the 2002–03 season.^[25] He requested the number 28 (his number at Sporting), as he did not want the pressure of living up to the expectation linked to the number 7 shirt, which had previously been worn by players such as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, and David Beckham. "After I joined, the manager asked me what number I'd like. I said 28. But Ferguson said 'No, you're going to have No. 7,' and the famous shirt was an extra source of motivation. I was forced to live up to such an honour."^[26]

Ronaldo made his team debut as a 60th-minute substitute in a 4–0 home victory over Bolton Wanderers. He scored his first goal for Manchester United with a free kick in a 3–0 win over Portsmouth on 1 November 2003. Ronaldo ended his first season in English football by scoring the opening goal in United's 3–0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall.^[27]

He scored United's 1000th Premier League goal on 29 October 2005 in a 4–1 loss to Middlesbrough.^[28] He scored ten goals in all competitions, and fans voted him to his first FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year award in 2005.

He was sent off in the Manchester derby at the City of Manchester Stadium on 14 January 2006 (a game which United lost 3–1) for kicking City's former United player Andrew Cole.^[29]

Ronaldo won his second trophy in English football in the 2005–06 season, scoring the third goal in Manchester United's 4–0 Football League Cup final victory over Wigan Athletic.^[30]

2006–2009[link]

Ronaldo with United during their 2006–2007 season.

The 2006–2007 season proved to be the breakout year for Ronaldo, as he broke the 20 goal barrier for the first time and picked up his first league title with Manchester United.

In November and December 2006, Ronaldo received consecutive Barclays Player of the Month honours, becoming only the third player in Premier League history to do so after Dennis Bergkamp in 1997 and Robbie Fowler in 1996.^[31][32] He scored his 50th Manchester United goal against city rivals Manchester City on 5 May 2007 as United claimed their first Premier League title in four years, and he was voted into his second consecutive FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year award at the end of the year.

Despite rumours circulating in March 2007 that Real Madrid were willing to pay an unprecedented €80 million (£54 million) for Ronaldo,^[33] he signed a five-year, £120,000-a-week (£31 million total) extension with United on 13 April, making him the highest-paid player in team history.^[34][35]

Ronaldo amassed a host of personal awards for the season. He won the PFA Players' Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards, joining Andy Gray (in 1977) as the only players to receive this honour.^[36] In April, he completed the treble by winning the PFA Fans' Player of the Year. Ronaldo was also one of eight Manchester United players named in the 2006–07 PFA Premier League Team of the Year.

Ronaldo (left) and Carlos Tévez prior to a Champions League match.

Ronaldo's 2007–08 season began with a red card for a headbutt on Portsmouth player Richard Hughes during United's second match of the season, for which he was punished with a three-match ban.^[37] Ronaldo said he had "learned a lot" from the experience and would not let players "provoke" him in the future.^[38] After scoring the only goal in a Champions League away match against Sporting, Ronaldo also scored the injury-time winner in the return fixture as Manchester United topped their Champions League group.^[39]

He finished as the runner-up to Kaká for the 2007 Ballon d'Or,^[40] and was third in the running for the FIFA World Player of the Year award, behind Kaká and Lionel Messi.^[41]

Ronaldo scored his first hat trick for Manchester United in a 6–0 win against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on 12 January 2008, bringing Manchester United up to the top of the Premier League table.^[42] He scored his twenty-third league goal of the season in a 2–0 win against Reading, equalling his entire total for the 2006–07 season.^[43] During a 1–1 Champions League first knockout round draw against Lyon on 20 February, an unidentified Lyon supporter continuously aimed a green laser at Ronaldo and United teammate Nani, prompting an investigation by UEFA.^[44] One month later, Lyon were fined CHF5,000 (£2,427) for the incident.^[45]

On 19 March 2008, Ronaldo captained United for the first time in his career in a home win over Bolton, scoring both goals in the 2–0 victory.^[46] The second of the goals was his 33rd of the campaign, which set a new club single-season scoring record by a midfielder and thus topped George Best's forty-year-old total of 32 goals in the 1967–68 season.^[47] Ronaldo scored another brace in a 4–0 win over Aston Villa on 29 March, which at the time gave him 35 goals in 37 domestic and European matches as both a starter and substitute. Ronaldo's scoring streak was rewarded with his becoming the first winger to win the 2007–08 European Golden Shoe, finishing eight points ahead of Mallorca's Dani Güiza.^[48]

In the 2007–08 Champions League final on 21 May against league rivals Chelsea, Ronaldo scored the opening goal after 26 minutes, which was negated by a Chelsea equaliser in the 45th minute as the match ended 1–1 after extra time. His misfire in the penalty shoot-out put Chelsea in position to win the trophy, but John Terry shot wide right after slipping on the pitch surface, and Manchester United emerged victorious 6–5 on penalties. Ronaldo was named the UEFA Fans' Man of the Match,^[49] and wrapped up the campaign with a career-high 42 goals in all competitions, falling four short of Denis Law's team-record mark of 46 in the 1963–64 season.

Ronaldo and Manchester United against Albert Riera and rivals Liverpool.

On 5 June 2008, Sky Sports reported that Ronaldo had expressed an interest in moving to Real Madrid if they offered him the same amount of money the team had allegedly promised him earlier in the year.^[50] Manchester United filed a tampering complaint with FIFA on 9 June over Madrid's alleged pursuit of Ronaldo, but FIFA declined to take any action.^[51][52] Speculation that a transfer would happen continued until 6 August, when Ronaldo confirmed that he would stay at United for at least another year.^[53]

Ronaldo underwent ankle surgery at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam on 7 July.^[54] He returned to action on 17 September in United's UEFA Champions League goalless group-stage draw with Villarreal as a substitute for Park Ji-Sung,^[55] and scored his first overall goal of the season in a 3–1 League Cup third round win over Middlesbrough on 24 September.

In a 5–0 win over Stoke City on 15 November 2008, Ronaldo scored his 100th and 101st goals in all competitions for Manchester United, both from free kicks.^[56] The goals also meant that Ronaldo had now scored against each of the other 19 teams in the Premier League at the time.^[57] On 2 December, Ronaldo became Manchester United's first Ballon d'Or recipient since George Best in 1968. He finished with 446 points, 165 ahead of runner-up Lionel Messi.^[58] He was awarded the Silver Ball after finishing with two goals as United won the Club World Cup on 19 December.^[59]

On 8 January 2009, Ronaldo was uninjured in a single-car accident in which he wrote off his Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano in a tunnel along the A538 near Manchester Airport. A breathalyser test he gave to police officers at the scene was negative, and he attended training later that morning.^[60] Four days later, he became the first Premier League player ever to be named the FIFA World Player of the Year, in addition to being the first Portuguese player to win the award since Luís Figo in 2001.^[61]

Ronaldo scored his first Champions League goal of the season, and first since the final against Chelsea, in a 2–0 victory over Internazionale that sent United into the quarter-finals.^[62] In the second leg against Porto, Ronaldo scored a 40-yard game-winning goal as United advanced to the semi-finals. He later called it the best goal he had ever scored.^[63][64] Ronaldo participated in his second consecutive Champions League final, but made little impact in United's 2–0 loss to Barcelona. He finished with 53 appearances in all competitions, which was four higher than the previous year, but scored sixteen fewer goals (26) than his career-best total of 42 from the previous season.

On 11 June, Manchester United accepted an unconditional offer of £80 million from Real Madrid for Ronaldo after it was revealed that he again had expressed his desire to leave the club.^[65] It was confirmed by a representative of the Glazer family that the sale was fully condoned by Ferguson.^[66] When Ronaldo had eventually completed his transfer to Real, he expressed his gratitude towards Ferguson for helping him develop as a player, saying, "He's been my father in sport, one of the most important factors and most influential in my career."^[67]

Real Madrid[link]

2009–10 season[link]

Ronaldo and Real Madrid against Diego Forlán and city rivals Atlético Madrid.

On 26 June 2009, Real Madrid confirmed that Ronaldo would join the club on 1 July 2009 from Manchester United for £80 million (€93.9 million/$131.6 million),^[68] after agreeing terms and signing a six-year contract.^[69] Ronaldo's contract is worth €11 million per year^[4] and it has a €1 billion buy-out clause.^[70] He was presented to the world media as a Real Madrid player on 6 July,^[71] where he was handed the number 9 jersey.^[72] The shirt was presented to him by Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stéfano.^[73] Ronaldo was welcomed by 80,000 fans at his presentation at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, surpassing Diego Maradona's record of 75,000 fans when he was presented in Italy, after he was transferred from Barcelona to Napoli in 1984.^[74]

Ronaldo made his Madrid debut on 21 July in a 1–0 win over Shamrock Rovers. His first goal came one week later with a penalty in Madrid's 4–2 win over LDU Quito.^[75] On 29 August, Ronaldo capped his La Liga debut with a goal, scoring Real's second from the penalty spot in a 3–2 home win against Deportivo La Coruña.^[76] On 15 September, Ronaldo scored two free-kicks in a 5–2 away victory over Zürich, his first Champions League goals for Real.^[77] He broke a Madrid club record when he scored in a league match against Villarreal and thus became the first ever player to score in his first four La Liga appearances.^[78]

An ankle injury suffered on 10 October, while Ronaldo was on international duty with Portugal against Hungary,^[79] kept him out until 25 November, which in turn caused him to miss both of Madrid's Champions League group stage matches against Milan. Ronaldo made his first post-injury start in a 1–0 El Clásico defeat to Barcelona on 29 November. On 6 December, he was sent off for the first time in his Madrid career in Madrid's 4–2 victory against Almería, a match which also saw him miss a penalty. He was carded first for removing his shirt during a goal celebration, then for kicking out at an opponent three minutes later.^[80] On 5 May 2010 Ronaldo scored his first Real Madrid hat-trick in an away game against Mallorca. Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuaín scored 53 league goals during the course of the season and became Real's highest scoring league duo in their history.^[81]

2010–11 season[link]

Ronaldo during a friendly game against Peñarol before the beginning of the season.

With the departure of Raúl during the summer of 2010, Ronaldo was handed the No. 7 jersey for Real Madrid.^[82] On 23 October 2010, Ronaldo scored four goals against Racing de Santander,^[83] the most goals he has ever scored in a single match.^[84] This completed a goalscoring run of six consecutive matches (three in La Liga, one in the Champions League, and two for Portugal) in which Ronaldo scored in each match, totalling 11 goals, which is the most Ronaldo has scored in a single month. Before Real Madrid's 5–0 defeat by Barcelona at the Camp Nou, Ronaldo scored his second La Liga hat-trick of the season in a 5–1 win over Athletic Bilbao.^[85] His final match of the calendar year saw him score a hat-trick in a 8–0 trashing of Levante in the Copa del Rey.^[86]

Ronaldo began the 2011 with a very promising outlook, especially after Real Madrid acknowledged he had broken numerous goalscoring records, previously settled and held by classic players such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Hugo Sánchez, and Manuel Alday.^[87][88] Ronaldo began his scoring spree by scoring two vital goals in a tight 3–2 victory away to Getafe.^[89] He then consolidated his massive performances by scoring a hat-trick and assisting Kaká to score his first league goal after his return from injury, in a 4–2 victory over Villarreal on 9 January. One game away from the middle of the season, Ronaldo had a very clear chance of breaking Telmo Zarra's and Hugo Sánchez's record of 38 League goals in a single season, since he was the league's top scorer with 22 goals, above Lionel Messi.^[90][91] However, shortly after, Ronaldo experienced the biggest goal drought in his entire career, scoring only 2 goals in more than a month. During this period, Real Madrid acknowledged to have hit the crossbar more than 12 times in the season, most of the shots belonging to Ronaldo and almost all having happened during crucial moments in drawn matches.^[92] Ronaldo then made a massive comeback by scoring a hat-trick in a 7–0 trashing of Málaga on 3 March 2011, but was affected by a muscle injury at the end of the match, which forced him to spend 10 days on the sidelines.

Ronaldo and Real Madrid against Gareth Bale and Tottenham in the UEFA Champions League.

In April he made another massive comeback from injury, sustaining a three-game scoring streak (including 2 goals in Champions League quarter-finals against Tottenham Hotspur), thus arriving to the first of a historical series of four El Clásico encounters two goals short of breaking his personal record of 42 goals in all competitions in a single season, achieved at Manchester United in the 2007–08 season.

During the second league edition of El Clásico, Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot and took his tally to 41 goals, also taking his scoring streak to four games. On 20 April, Ronaldo scored the winning goal against Barcelona in the 103rd minute of the Copa del Rey final.^[93] This goal would later be chosen as both Ronaldo's and Real Madrid's best goal in the season by several fan polls, including those of Marca^[94] and Real Madrid's website.^[95] 7 May saw Real travel to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán to take on Sevilla, where Ronaldo led the thrashing of a woeful Andalusian side, scoring four goals in a 6–2 victory. These four goals took him to 46 for the season which surpassed his previous record of 42 in a season playing for Manchester United.^[96] Three days later he reached 49 goals for the season, by scoring another hat-trick in a 4–0 home win against Getafe. On 15 May, after scoring two free-kick goals in a 3–1 win over Villarreal, he equalled the La Liga record with most goals in a season with 38, a record previously held by Telmo Zarra and Hugo Sánchez.

On 21 May, he scored two goals in the last league match of the season against Almería, taking his Pichichi total to 41, and La Liga total to 40, becoming the first and only player to score 40 goals in a La Liga season. By doing this, he won the European Golden Shoe award once again, becoming the first player to win the trophy in two different leagues. The sports newspaper Marca, who awards the Pichichi Trophy, included the goal scored on 18 September 2010 against Real Sociedad in Ronaldo's goal count, which had been officially attributed to Pepe.^[97] Should this goal be granted to Ronaldo, his goal count in the Pichichi Trophy would tally 41 goals. However, regardless of this goal polemic, Ronaldo's record-breaking figures became a source of major attention from public media, such as being included in the Sports Illustrated World XI,^[98] rating him as one of the world's best footballers. Accounting for all competitions, Ronaldo ended the season with a total of 53 goals (not granting him the controversial goal from Pepe), having scored 25 goals with his right foot (excluding free-kicks and penalty-kicks) and 9 with his left foot.^[99]

2011–12 season[link]

Real Madrid's pre-season began with a 4–1 victory over MLS team Los Angeles Galaxy,^[100] with goals from Callejón, Joselu, Ronaldo, and Benzema.^[101] Four days later Ronaldo scored a second half hat-trick in a 3–0 win against Guadalajara. Ronaldo's preseason performance was highly praised as world media kept hailing Ronaldo's extreme competitiveness and motivation, even during friendly matches. On 17 August 2011, Ronaldo scored his 100th goal with Real Madrid with a first-half equalizer against Barcelona in the second leg of the 2011 Spanish Supercup in the Camp Nou. On August 27, 2011, he opened the 2011–12 La Liga season with a hat-trick in a 6–0 win at Real Zaragoza.

In the first weeks of September, Ronaldo's physical performance was subject to scrutiny by world media, after Castrol released a television film named Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit where he was put to test in several fields, including mental and physical. Conclusions from the movie and doctors in the weeks following claimed that Ronaldo was one of the best athletes in the world, excelling in football and outstanding in almost every other category.^{[citation needed]} Several sources^{[weasel words]} drew comparisons between him and other top athletes, including sprinter Usain Bolt.^{[citation needed]} On 24 September, Ronaldo scored a hat-trick (including two penalties) in Real Madrid's 6–2 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabéu. This was his ninth La Liga hat-trick and tenth hat-trick for Real Madrid. On September 27, Ronaldo scored Real's opening goal in a 3–0 defeat of Ajax in the Champions League. On 22 October, after not scoring in his previous three games, Ronaldo scored his tenth La Liga hat-trick and eleventh in total for Real Madrid in a match away to Málaga, which Real Madrid won 4–0. His twelfth Real Madrid hat-trick followed on 6 November, in a 7–1 victory over Osasuna that ensured Madrid stayed top of the table heading into the international break.^[102] On 19 November 2011, Ronaldo scored Real's second goal in a 2–3 defeat of Valencia. On 26 November 2011, Ronaldo scored two penalties in a 4–1 defeat of Atlético Madrid in the El Derbi madrileño. On 3 December 2011, Ronaldo scored Madrid's second goal in a 0–3 defeat of Sporting de Gijón in La Liga. He was one of the three finalists for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or. On 13 December 2011, Ronaldo scored the second goal against SD Ponferradina in the first leg of the Copa del Rey Round 4, the match ended in a 0–2 win. On 17 December 2011, Ronaldo scored his twelfth La Liga hat-trick and thirteenth overall in a 6–2 win away to Sevilla. Ronaldo was third in the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, behind Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernández, and second in the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or, behind Lionel Messi and ahead of Xavi Hernández. In Real Madrid's next game in La Liga at home to Granada Ronaldo scored the fifth goal in a 5–1 win. He was notably criticized in the public media^[who?] for not celebrating the goal. On 22 January 2012, Ronaldo scored two penalties in a 4–1 win over Athletic Bilbao, and on 28 January scored Real Madrid's second and winning goal in a 3–1 win against Zaragoza. Ronaldo also scored two goals against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey Quarter-finals, which Real lost 4–3 on aggregrate. On 12 February 2012, Ronaldo scored a hat-trick, his thirteenth in La Liga and fourteenth for Real Madrid, in a 4–2 home win over Levante. This win stretched Real Madrid's lead over second-placed Barcelona to 10 points. On 24 March 2012, Ronaldo reached more than 100 goals in La Liga in just three season at Real Madrid. As of March 24, 2012, Ronaldo had averaged 1.01 goals per game in La Liga.

On 11 April, Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Atletico Madrid in a 1–4 win, as well as assisting the last goal. His hat-trick, one goal from a free kick, one from 30 yards on the left wing and one penalty, gave him 40 league goals in the season, making him the only player in La Liga history to score 40 goals in two seasons, even doing so in consecutive seasons. Ronaldo officially broke his previous record of 40 goals in a La Liga season on 14 April, scoring in a 3–1 win against Sporting Gijón.

International career[link]

Ronaldo playing against Brazil

Ronaldo earned his first cap for Portugal in a 1–0 victory against Kazakhstan on 20 August 2003.^[103]

Euro 2004[link]

Ronaldo was called up for Euro 2004,^[104] scoring in a 2–1 group stage loss to eventual champions Greece^[105] and in a 2–1 semi-final win over the Netherlands.^[106] He was named in the team of the tournament despite finishing with only two goals.^[107] He also represented Portugal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.^[108][109]

2006 World Cup[link]

Ronaldo was the second-highest scorer in FIFA World Cup qualification in the European zone with seven goals,^[107] and scored his first World Cup goal against Iran with a penalty kick.^[110]

During a quarter-final match against England on 1 July 2006, Ronaldo's United teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off for stamping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho. The English media speculated that Ronaldo had influenced referee Horacio Elizondo's decision by aggressively complaining, after which he was seen in replays winking at the Portuguese bench following Rooney's dismissal. After the match, Ronaldo insisted that Rooney was a friend and that he was not pushing for Rooney to be sent off.^[111] On 4 July, Elizondo clarified that the red card was due to Rooney's infraction and not the fracas between Rooney and Ronaldo that followed.^[112]

The angry reaction from the English press caused Ronaldo to consider leaving United,^[113] and he allegedly told Spanish sports daily Marca that he wished to move to Real Madrid.^[114] In response to the speculation, Ferguson sent Portuguese assistant manager Carlos Queiroz to speak to Ronaldo in attempt to change his mind, a sentiment that was shared by Rooney.^[115][116] Ronaldo stayed, and signed his new five-year extension in April 2007.^[117]

Ronaldo was booed during Portugal's semi-final defeat to France,^[118] and missed out on the competition's Best Young Player award due to a negative e-mail campaign from England fans.^[119] Though the online vote only affected the nomination process, FIFA's Technical Study Group awarded the honour to Germany's Lukas Podolski, citing Ronaldo's behaviour as a factor in the decision.^[120]

Post-World Cup[link]

One day after his 22nd birthday, Ronaldo captained Portugal for the first time in a friendly against Brazil on 6 February 2007.^[121] This move was in honour of Portuguese Football Federation president Carlos Silva, who had died two days earlier. Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari explained, "Mr. Silva asked me to make [Ronaldo] captain as a gesture... [he] is too young to be captain, but Mr. Silva asked me, and now he is no longer with us."^[122]

Euro 2008[link]

Ronaldo scored eight goals in Portugal's UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign,^[123] behind Poland's Ebi Smolarek, but finished with only one goal in the tournament as Portugal were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Germany.^[124] When Carlos Queiroz was named Portugal's new coach in July 2008,^[125] he appointed Ronaldo as team captain.^[126]

2010 World Cup[link]

On 15 June 2010, in Portugal's opening World Cup match against Côte d'Ivoire, Ronaldo was tackled by right-back Guy Demel, which led to an argument and both being booked. The next day, Portugal contacted FIFA to suggest that Ronaldo's yellow card be rescinded since he was "pulled into" the confrontation after having already moved away from the spot where he was tackled, but the appeal was rejected.^[127]

Ronaldo failed to make an impact in the World Cup; after going scoreless in the qualifiers, his only goal came in Portugal's 7–0 group stage thrashing of North Korea on 21 June,^[128] which marked his first international goal in 16 months.^[129] Portugal were ultimately eliminated by Spain in the Round of 16.

International goals[link]

Cristiano Ronaldo: International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	12 June 2004	Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal	Greece	1–2	1–2	Euro 2004
2	30 June 2004	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Netherlands	2–0	2–1	Euro 2004
3	4 September 2004	Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia	Latvia	0–1	0–2	2006 World Cup Qualification
4	8 September 2004	Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal	Estonia	1–0	4–0	2006 World Cup Qualification
5	13 October 2004	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Russia	2–0	7–1	2006 World Cup Qualification
6	13 October 2004	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Russia	4–0	7–1	2006 World Cup Qualification
7	17 November 2004	Stade Josy Barthel, Luxemburg City, Luxembourg	Luxembourg	0–2	0–5	2006 World Cup Qualification
8	4 June 2005	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	Slovakia	2–0	2–0	2006 World Cup Qualification
9	8 June 2005	A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia	Estonia	0–1	0–1	2006 World Cup Qualification
10	1 March 2006	LTU Arena, Düsseldorf, Germany	Saudi Arabia	0–1	0–3	Friendly
11	1 March 2006	LTU Arena, Düsseldorf, Germany	Saudi Arabia	0–3	0–3	Friendly
12	17 June 2006	Waldstadion, Frankfurt, Germany	Iran	2–0	2–0	2006 World Cup
13	7 October 2006	Estádio do Bessa, Porto, Portugal	Azerbaijan	1–0	3–0	Euro 2008 Qualification
14	7 October 2006	Estádio do Bessa, Porto, Portugal	Azerbaijan	3–0	3–0	Euro 2008 Qualification
15	15 November 2006	Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal	Kazakhstan	2–0	3–0	Euro 2008 Qualification
16	24 March 2007	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Belgium	2–0	4–0	Euro 2008 Qualification
17	24 March 2007	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Belgium	4–0	4–0	Euro 2008 Qualification
18	22 August 2007	Hanrapetakan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia	Armenia	1–1	1–1	Euro 2008 Qualification
19	8 September 2007	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	Poland	2–1	2–2	Euro 2008 Qualification
20	17 October 2007	Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan	Kazakhstan	0–2	1–2	Euro 2008 Qualification
21	11 June 2008	Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland	Czech Republic	1–2	1–3	Euro 2008
22	11 February 2009	Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal	Finland	1–0	1–0	Friendly
23	21 June 2010	Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa	North Korea	6–0	7–0	2010 World Cup
24	8 October 2010	Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal	Denmark	3–1	3–1	Euro 2012 Qualification
25	12 October 2010	Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland	Iceland	0–1	1–3	Euro 2012 Qualification
26	9 February 2011	Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland	Argentina	1–1	2–1	Friendly
27	10 August 2011	Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal	Luxembourg	2–0	5–0	Friendly
28	2 September 2011	GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus	Cyprus	0–1	0–4	Euro 2012 Qualification
29	2 September 2011	GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus	Cyprus	0–2	0–4	Euro 2012 Qualification
30	11 October 2011	Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark	Denmark	2–1	2–1	Euro 2012 Qualification
31	15 November 2011	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1–0	6–2	Euro 2012 Qualification
32	15 November 2011	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	Bosnia and Herzegovina	3–1	6–2	Euro 2012 Qualification