5 Biggest Controversies In Cristiano Ronaldo’s Career

5 Min Read
Cristiano Ronaldo

This article will tell you about five of the biggest incidents in Cristiano Ronaldo’s career

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest football players of all time, and his career has been marked by both remarkable achievements and controversies.

Ronaldo’s career has been marked by several controversies, including rape allegations, tax evasion charges, sideline tantrums, disrespect to opponents, and refusing to shake hands.

- Advertisement -

While Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, these controversies have raised questions about his character and his sportsmanship.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo remains one of the most successful and popular athletes in the world. Here are the five biggest controversies in Cristiano Ronaldo’s career:

Rape Allegations

In 2018, an American woman named Kathryn Mayorga accused Cristiano Ronaldo of raping her in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009. Ronaldo denied the allegations and said that their encounter was consensual.

- Advertisement -

However, Mayorga filed a lawsuit against him, and the case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Favourite Opponents In UCL History
Cristiano Ronaldo

The case was highly publicized and brought negative attention to Ronaldo. While he was not found guilty of rape, the allegations damaged his reputation and raised questions about his character.

Tax Evasion Charges

In 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo was accused of evading taxes by the Spanish tax authorities. Ronaldo was alleged to have evaded 14.7 million euros in taxes, and he was charged with four counts of tax fraud. He eventually agreed to plead guilty and pay a fine of 18.8 million euros to settle the case.

The case was another major controversy in Ronaldo’s career, as it showed that he had not been paying his taxes properly. It also raised questions about the fairness of the tax system, as many high-earning athletes and celebrities have been accused of tax evasion in recent years.

Sideline Tantrums

Cristiano Ronaldo is known for his competitiveness and desire to win, but he has also been known to lose his temper on the sidelines. In 2019, during a match against Milan, Ronaldo threw his captain’s armband on the ground after a last-minute goal was disallowed. He was fined for the incident.

Cristiano Ronaldo still got the greatest presentation in football history
Cristiano Ronaldo

The incident showed Ronaldo’s frustration with the decision, but it also showed his lack of sportsmanship. Many fans and commentators criticized Ronaldo for his behavior, saying that he should have controlled his emotions better.

Disrespect to Opponents

Ronaldo has also been accused of showing disrespect to his opponents on several occasions. In 2013, he was caught on camera shouting “Messi, Messi, Messi” at the Atletico Madrid fans after scoring a hat-trick. The incident was seen as a direct insult to Ronaldo’s arch-rival, Lionel Messi.

In 2019, during a match against Atletico Madrid, Ronaldo made a gesture that was interpreted as mocking Diego Simeone, the Atletico coach. The gesture involved grabbing his crotch, and it was seen as highly disrespectful. Ronaldo was fined for the incident.

Cristiano Ronaldo reached 500 million followers on social media
Cristiano Ronaldo

These incidents showed Ronaldo’s competitive nature, but they also showed his lack of respect for his opponents. Many fans and commentators criticized Ronaldo for his behavior, saying that he should show more sportsmanship and respect for his opponents.

Refusing to Shake Hands

In 2020, during a match between Juventus and Lokomotiv Moscow, Cristiano Ronaldo was criticized for refusing to shake hands with Lokomotiv Moscow’s captain, Guilherme. Ronaldo claimed that he did not shake hands because he was concerned about the spread of the coronavirus, but his actions were seen as disrespectful by many.

The incident showed Ronaldo’s concern for his own health, but it also showed his lack of respect for his opponent. Many fans and commentators criticized Ronaldo for his behavior, saying that he should have shown more sportsmanship and respect for his opponent.

By Shyam
Follow:
Shyam Sharma who joined SPORTS BIG NEWS in 2021. Focuses on soccer – chiefly the Premier League, LaLiga, UEFA Champions League, Liga MX and MLS. On occasion, also covers American sports, general news and entertainment. Fascinated by the language of sport – particularly the under-appreciated art of translating cliché-speak.