10 Most Infamous Cristiano Ronaldo Controversies: A Deep Dive into CR7’s Scandals
Cristiano Ronaldo, also referred to as CR7, at the age of 38, is still winning people over with his skill on the pitch.
Ronaldo is still well-known despite his well-publicized exit from Manchester United and transfer to the Saudi team Al Nassr. But CR7 is no stranger to controversy, as are many celebrities.
Ronaldo’s career has been filled with memorable incidents, ranging from his controversial criticism of Iceland at the 2016 FIFA World Cup to his role in Wayne Rooney’s red card during the 2006 World Cup. Here, we examine the most well-known Cristiano Ronaldo disputes.
Most Infamous Cr7 Controversies
Here’s top 10 most infamous controversies in Ronaldo’s career:
1. The Manchester United Exit (2022)
The second phase of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United career began with much enthusiasm and concluded with controversy. After coming back to the team in 2021, Ronaldo was anticipated to contribute to Manchester United’s comeback. But by 2022, things had become worse between him and the club.
The pivotal moment occurred when Ronaldo openly criticized the club’s facilities, management, and even head coach Erik ten Hag in a contentious interview with Piers Morgan. Ronaldo said that United had “betrayed” him and that they were ejecting him. Manchester United mutually agreed to end his contract after the interview caused a stir in the football community. While some may have found resonance in Ronaldo’s remarks, others viewed the interview as a disrespectful way to leave the team that gave him his big break.
Ronaldo’s reputation suffered as a result of this interview, particularly with United fans, and focus was diverted from his on-field accomplishments. It also signaled a turning point in his career when he quit playing football in Europe in 2023 to join Al-Nassr, a Saudi Arabian team.
2. Criticizing Iceland’s Celebration at Euro 2016
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared irritated following Portugal’s Tuesday 1-1 tie with Iceland. Iceland, the smallest country to have ever qualified for the European Championship and enjoying their first-ever appearance at a major tournament, used a rather defensive tactic against Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Ronaldo appeared genuinely irritated by these strategies. He continued to criticize the opponents’ celebrations without holding back, which sparked a heated debate.
3. The Bust Statue Fiasco (2017)
A bronze figure honoring Cristiano Ronaldo was presented at Madeira Airport in 2017, after the airport was renamed Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport. But the statue soon became a global phenomenon for all the wrong reasons due to its strange and warped facial features. Social media users made fun of the bust a lot, pointing out how much it resembled the football player.
In defense of his creation, artist Emanuel Santos asserted that “not even Jesus pleased everyone.” However, a new statue was commissioned in 2018 to replace the previous one because of the reaction.
Even while the bust dispute wasn’t as harmful as some of the other events on this list, it demonstrated how public mockery could result from well-intentioned tributes to Ronaldo. The incident came to represent how everything connected to the football player attracts a lot of attention.
4. Arrested on Suspicion of Raping a Woman in 2005
The rape claim against Cristiano Ronaldo is the next point of contention. Ronaldo was detained in October 2005 after he was allegedly accused of raping a lady. Three weeks prior to the arrest, she claimed to have been sexually assaulted in a central London hotel.
Moreover, she stated that the football player went to the hotel room with a companion after meeting her at a nightclub. It is evident that Ronaldo refused to consent to such an affair. Additionally, the accusations against him were dismissed because there was insufficient evidence to convict him of the crime.
Comparable sexual accusations against other football players were revealed by a concurrent probe. We may therefore almost assume that this was also fake.
5. Allegations of Sexual Assault (2009-2018)
In 2009, Ronaldo was involved in a major issue after Kathryn Mayorga claimed he had sexually assaulted her in a hotel room in Las Vegas. Before Mayorga filed a complaint in 2018, alleging that she had been forced to sign a settlement agreement in order to stay silent about the alleged assault, the issue was under investigation for a number of years.
Ronaldo called the claims “fake news” and refuted them repeatedly. The Las Vegas police closed the investigation in 2019, stating that there was not enough evidence to file charges. But the case kept coming up, and Ronaldo’s reputation suffered a great deal—especially during the height of the #MeToo movement.
Despite the fact that Ronaldo was never convicted, the scandal damaged his reputation and worried sponsors like Nike. The case brought to light the difficulties prominent athletes encounter while handling personal scandals.
6. The ‘Coca-Cola Incident’ (2020)
Ronaldo stirred up controversy during a press conference for the 2020-2021 UEFA European Championship when he moved two Coca-Cola bottles out of sight and held out a bottle of water, asking reporters to “drink water” instead. The following day, Coca-Cola, one of the tournament sponsors, witnessed a $4 billion decline in its stock price.
Some saw Ronaldo’s gesture as an endorsement of a healthy lifestyle, while others saw it as an inconsiderate jab at a key sponsor. A discussion over the obligations of athletes in similar circumstances was spurred by the occurrence, and UEFA promptly reminded players to show respect for sponsors.
This scandal brought attention to Ronaldo’s impact outside of football and sparked debate about how athletes should combine their personal morality with their business commitments. It also demonstrated how a seemingly insignificant decision could have far-reaching financial effects.
7. Mystery Surrounding the Biological Mother of Cristiano Ronaldo Jr.
When the football community learned that Cristiano Ronaldo had slept with a 20-year-old girl, it broke out into frenzied celebration. She sought £10 million to give Ronaldo’s child away, claiming to be the child’s mother. She’s been known to implore the athlete to accept the child and the reality by calling him over and over again while sobbing.
In addition, she gave up her child for the money and wanted the child back, so she left college early. Friends and family said she regretted the decision to give up the baby and that she continued to suffer from acute depression.
8. Alleged Affair with Boxer Badr Hari
The media was enthralled with rumors regarding Ronaldo’s purported gay relationship with Moroccan boxer Badr Hari. Sensational news sources fostered rumors of a romance between the two, but no hard proof materialized. Before being written out as unfounded, the rumor swiftly rose to prominence as one of the most odd and sensationalized Ronaldo disputes.
9. The Tax Evasion Scandal (2017)
The Spanish government charged Ronaldo of tax evasion in 2017. The prosecution said that between 2011 and 2014, Ronaldo concealed revenue from image rights through the use of offshore businesses, resulting in unpaid taxes of €14.7 million. After originally refuting the charges, Ronaldo and the Spanish tax authorities came to an agreement in 2018.
Ronaldo took a two-year suspended prison term and agreed to pay a fine of €18.8 million. Despite not going to jail, the scandal brought attention to the financial scrutiny that professional sportsmen must endure.
One of the biggest controversies of Ronaldo’s career, the tax evasion case damaged his reputation with the Spanish public and media. Even though the matter was settled out of court, his reputation took a serious hit, particularly since he was a Real Madrid player at the time.
10. Commenting on MSN Trio’s Relationship
Ronaldo’s remarks about the well-known MSN (Messi, Suarez, and Neymar) combo caused yet another uproar. Ronaldo said he didn’t envy the Barcelona players’ friendship and that he liked to “fly solo” when asked about their closeness. Ronaldo highlighted his emphasis on performance, but other people took his remarks as disparaging, which added to his reputation as a lone wolf.
Conclusion: Despite being surprising at times, Cristiano Ronaldo‘s controversies haven’t stopped him from having an amazing football career. CR7 has proven that no amount of controversy can erase his status as a dominant force in world football, despite personal rumors and on-field confrontations.
