1985: Born February 5 in Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
2002: Makes his debut for Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Super Liga at the age of 17 after winning international caps for Portugal’s youth sides.
2003: August 6 - Scores in pre-season friendly against Manchester United.
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August 8 - Completes a £12.24million transfer to United, taking the number seven shirt following the sale of then England captain David Beckham to Real Madrid.
August 16 - Makes his debut as a second-half substitute in opening-day 4-0 win over Bolton at Old Trafford.
August 20 - Plays for Portugal’s full national side in 1-0 win over Kazakhstan.
November 1 - Scores his first goal for United in the 3-0 victory over Portsmouth at Old Trafford.
2004: May 22 - Dazzles in United’s 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall.
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June 24 - Scores in the shoot-out as Portugal knock England out of the European Championships 6-5 on penalties.
July 4 - Plays in Euro 2004 final, which Portugal lose 1-0 to Greece.
2005: October 19 - Arrested and questioned by police after an allegation of rape at a London hotel is made against him. Ronaldo asserts his innocence. No charges are brought.
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November 18 - Agrees two-year extension to his United contract, keeping him at the club until 2010.
2006: July 1 Protests to referee Horacio Elizondo after United team-mate Wayne Rooney clashes with Ricardo Carvalho in the World Cup quarter-final between Portugal and England. Rooney is sent off and television pictures catch Ronaldo winking towards the bench. Scores the winning penalty in the shoot-out to knock out England.
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July 8 - After losing the third-place play-off to Germany, Ronaldo reveals he wants to leave United. Admits he would like a move to Spain, having been linked with Real Madrid.
July 7 - United stress there is “no possibility” Ronaldo will be sold.
2007: February 6 - Named captain of the Portugal team for a friendly against Brazil a day after his 22nd birthday.
April 13 - Agrees new five-year deal with Red Devils.
April 22 - Voted both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year - the first player to land the double award since Andy Gray in 1977.
May - Voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association as United win the Premier League title.
December 17 - Finishes third in FIFA World Player of the Year voting, behind winner Kaka and Lionel Messi.
2008: March 19 - Scores twice in a 2-0 win over Bolton - taking his tally for 2007-08 to 33 - to beat George Best’s 40-year-old club record for goals scored by a winger in a single season.
April 27 - Voted PFA Player of the Year for the second year running.
May 5 - United claim Premier League title with win at Wigan.
May 14 - Real Madrid claim they have the funds to purchase Ronaldo.
May 21 - Heads United in front in Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow. The game goes to penalties and, despite Ronaldo missing his kick, United win the shoot-out. Ends the season with 42 goals.
May 22 - Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster says he believes Ronaldo will play for the Spanish club at some point in his career.
June 2 - Ronaldo is reported to have told Brazilian website Terra that he wants to join Madrid, if they can meet United’s asking price.
June 6 - United report Madrid to FIFA over their pursuit of Ronaldo.
June 19 - Unable to prevent Portugal being dumped out of Euro 2008 as Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team lose 3-2 to Germany in the quarter-finals.
July 7 - Ronaldo undergoes surgery on his injured ankle in Amsterdam.
August 8 - Tells Portuguese newspaper Publico he will remain with Manchester United “for at least another year”.
August 17 - Makes his return from injury as a 62nd-minute substitute in a home goalless draw with Villarreal in the Champions League.
November 15 - Scores 100th goal for Manchester United with the first of a brace against Stoke.
November 30 - Sent off for two yellow cards in the Manchester derby, the second caution coming after a bizarre handball incident.
December 2 - Wins the prestigious Ballon d’Or, convincingly seeing off competition from second-placed Messi and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres, in third.
2009: January 8 - Escapes uninjured after writing off his Ferrari sports car by crashing into a roadside barrier under a tunnel near Manchester Airport on his way to training.
January 12 - Named FIFA World Player of the Year at gala ceremony in Zurich.
May 16 - Helps United win Premier League title with 0-0 draw against Arsenal.
May 27 - Unable to prevent United losing 2-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome.
June 11 - United accept a world-record £80million bid from Real Madrid.