Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the most famous faces in football – and, indeed, the world – but he has transformed his looks over the years.
Ronaldo, now 39 and plying his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr, first burst onto the scene at Manchester United in 2003 as a teenager with gaps in his teeth.
Across the following 21 years, he progressed from a self-confessed ‘feeble’ forward to a hulking, preening superstar who leads from the front for Portugal.
Cosmetic surgeons, however, believe he used plastic surgery to achieve his perfect appearance with the estimated costs for the procedures ranging in the thousands.
Ronaldo, it is said, has undergone work on his teeth, nose, forehead and hair.
Cristiano Ronaldo burst onto the scene at Manchester United as a ‘feeble’ teenager in 2003
Over his years at Old Trafford, Ronaldo transformed his physique and his facial features
He straightened his teeth and is likely to have taken up veneers for a squeaky-clean smile
Aged 18, Ronaldo joined United from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth £12million. Small and thin in stature, his gangling frame in old photos strikes a stark contrast to the imposing physique that more recently secured him five Ballon d’Or awards.
Now an underwear model and fitness freak, Ronaldo worked hard on his conditioning during his spell at United through high-intensity workouts several times a week.
Gradually, he began to pile on muscle, allowing him to hold off opponents. His facial features noticeably changed, too, with certain elements tweaked and shaped.
The most obvious difference appears to have come in the form of his shiny new teeth.
Ronaldo first gingerly touched down in the UK with braces, gaps and discolouration – but after just two years at United, veneers improved his smile.
The veneers are said to have cost £800 apiece, resulting in an overall fee of £20k.
‘I was small, feeble and had crooked teeth,’ Ronaldo admitted.
A dentist, delivering a glowing verdict on Ronaldo’s refreshed look, said: ‘His ultra-white teeth are now perfect and the veneers bring out his good looks.’
Ronaldo worked hard to build up his muscle at United, allowing him to become a more physical presence
Ronaldo is also said to have undergone work on his nose, forehead, facial lines and hair
The superstar, a fitness freak and underwear model, quickly became undroppable for United
Ronaldo earned a big-money move to Real Madrid for a then-record £80million fee
His features continued to change with Ronaldo believed to have received Botox injections
The various injections and tweaks to his face are likely to have cost thousands of pounds
Ronaldo smoothed out his furrowed brow and continued to eliminate lines on his face
It is also alleged that Ronaldo had work done on his nose. Pictures of him as a teenager show him with a wider tip and it appears to have since been sculpted.
Cosmetic expert Alex Karidis said: ‘It is possible he has had a tweaking to the tip of his nose although it isn’t drastic. His nose looks smaller than it was ten years ago.
‘That could just be his face evolving.’
His forehead has also been smoothed out. Ronaldo had adopted a visibly furrowed brow during his early days at United before seemingly opting for Botox injections.
Some believe he has jabs every four months and pays £2k a year to achieve this.
‘It looks like he has had Botox around the eyes and forehead,’ Karidis told The Sun. ‘His skin is now almost immaculate.’
In 2009, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for a then-record £80m fee. On his way to sweeping up an entire cabinet’s worth of trophies, though, he underwent more work.
Ronaldo’s picture-perfect smile was on display when he won the LaLiga Golden Boot in 2014
His immaculate hairstyle has been complemented by potential trips to hair experts
Ronaldo posed for this eye-catching portrait ahead of the Ballon d’Or Gala in 2015
He showcased his chiseled looks while winning a host of trophies during his spell in Madrid
Ronaldo later joined Juventus in Italy but retained his spot as football’s most recognisable face
Experts believe he eliminated lines on his face by using filler jabs. These injections tend to plump up skin in targeted areas, erasing lines around the nose and mouth.
‘Fillers plump up an area where time has deepened the lines, such as smile lines around the mouth,’ Karidis said. ‘Ronaldo’s face is smooth there now which could be because of fillers which are injected in fluid form into the skin.’
Ronaldo’s eyebrows were also apparently sharpened. He sported two bushy brows during his first days at United but has since plucked and tidied them.
This is a look easily achievable for free or via cut-price sessions at a salon.
In 2013, four years after his move to Madrid, Ronaldo was spotted with signs of a receding hairline at a gala in Monaco. An expert hair transplant could have set him back approximately £10k – pocket money for a player worth hundreds of millions.
Now at the pinnacle of his various looks, Ronaldo has admitted contemplating retirement with the current European Championship to be his last.
‘But I don’t get emotional about that, I get emotional about everything that football involves,’ he said. ‘Because of the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm of seeing my supporters, my family, the affection that people have for me.
Ronaldo sported a longer fringe and continued to pluck his eyebrows to keep them sharp back in 2019
Even with a buzz cut, Ronaldo’s iconic features were on display during 2020 in Turin
After spending three years at Juventus, Ronaldo pursued a new chapter and left for Man United in 2021
He remains front and centre for Portugal despite his advancing years and stunted pace
Averaging over a goal a game for Al Nassr, Ronaldo hit the ground running in the Middle East
Ronaldo is currently representing his country at Euro 2024 but is searching for his first goal at the tournament
‘It’s not about leaving football, because if I do, what else would I need to do or win?
‘It won’t be about getting one more point or one less point. Making people happy is what motivates me the most.’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk