October 11, 2025
Ronaldo didn’t just dominate football — he reinvented its entire business model. From his early days at Manchester United to global stardom in Madrid and beyond, Ronaldo transformed himself into a brand that redefined how the sport is marketed, consumed, and monetized across every corner of the world.
There was football before Cristiano Ronaldo, and then there’s everything that came after him. Few athletes in history have managed to redefine not just how the game is played, but how it is sold, watched, and experienced. From Manchester to Madrid, Turin to Riyadh, Ronaldo became more than a player; he turned himself into a global brand that changed the economics of football. His influence extends far beyond the pitch - shaping sponsorships, marketing, and even fan engagement in ways no one had imagined before.
Today, platforms like Likme.tv capture that same evolution, blending the passion of the sport with the modern world of digital entertainment, where every goal, transfer, and milestone becomes part of a larger football business story.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Too good to be true
When Cristiano Ronaldo first joined Manchester United, he wasn’t the global icon we know today, just a driven teenager with flair, hunger, and a will to outwork everyone around him. He stayed after training, studied every detail of his game, and built a reputation for his discipline as much as his talent. Those early years shaped the mindset that would define him: talent opens the door, but obsession keeps it open.
By the time he arrived at Real Madrid, Ronaldo had evolved into more than a footballer. CR7 became a brand - a shorthand for excellence, ambition, and relentless pursuit of perfection. Every goal, every appearance, every partnership added to an identity that blended sport, style, and aspiration. It wasn’t a product of marketing agencies; it was the natural result of years of consistency and control.
And when he made that move to Madrid, football itself evolved with him. His transfer wasn’t just a record-breaking signing, it was a business move that changed how clubs measure value. With Ronaldo came global visibility, sponsorship deals, and a new kind of fan engagement that extended far beyond the stadium. Real Madrid’s revenues soared, Juventus’ brand went global overnight, and Al-Nassr suddenly became a household name.
This was the birth of the Ronaldo Economy, where one player could reshape markets, lift entire leagues, and redefine what success in football means. Ronaldo proved that greatness isn’t only about goals but also about impact on the pitch, in business, and across the world.
Ronaldo’s online presence changed the relationship between players and fans. Over 600 million people follow his updates, turning even small moments into global events. He doesn’t need interviews or press tours, a single photo or clip can reach every corner of the world within minutes.
Brands quickly recognized the value of that reach. Collaborations with Ronaldo sell products, set trends, and influence how football is seen in everything surrounding the game itself. Each partnership fits into a larger image he’s built over the years - one of ambition, style, and control.
Through social media, Ronaldo created something bigger than visibility. He built a sense of closeness that no stadium could hold, proving that in modern football, connection is the real measure of influence.
Cristiano Ronaldo turned his name into a global business. What started as a football nickname became CR7, a brand that reaches far outside the game.
His fashion line began with CR7 underwear and clothing, later expanding to footwear, denim, and fragrances. In partnership with Pestana Hotels, he opened CR7 hotels in Lisbon, Madeira, Madrid, New York, and Marrakech, all designed around his image of modern luxury and discipline.
Ronaldo also co-founded CR7 Fitness by Crunch, a chain of gyms inspired by his training philosophy. Add to that his long-term deals with Nike, Clear, Herbalife, Armani, and Binance, and it’s clear he has mastered the business of being himself.
Through these ventures, CR7 became more than a logoo, more like a lifestyle brand built on ambition, confidence, and global reach.
Football today feels bigger than the sport itself. It lives in stadiums and on screens, in headlines and hashtags. What was once just a game has turned into a global stage where identity, business, and emotion all play their part. The “Ronaldo Effect” didn’t simply change how stars are seen, it rewired how the entire industry works.
Players no longer wait for clubs to define them. They craft their own stories, grow their own audiences, and speak to the world in real time. A post can travel farther than a goal; a brand deal can shape a career as much as a trophy. The lines between athlete, entrepreneur, and entertainer have blurred, and that’s no accident.
Football’s next chapter will be written as much in pixels as on grass. What happens on the pitch still matters most, but the echoes, the stories, reactions, and moments that live online are what keep the game alive long after the final whistle.
What stands out most about Cristiano Ronaldo’s journey isn’t the trophies or the records, but the precision with which he evolved. Every stage of his career carried intent, a decision made with purpose, an instinct to stay ahead of change. He read the rhythm of football as it shifted and reinvented himself before the sport even knew it needed to.
That awareness is what turned Ronaldo from an exceptional athlete into a timeless figure. He didn’t just follow where the game was going; he anticipated it. Long after the goals fade, Ronaldo’s greatest legacy will be how he turned ambition into architecture, reshaping the business of football without ever stepping off the pitch.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Portugal is on October 11, against Ireland, for the the World Cup Qualifiers. You can watch Portugal vs Ireland, Argentina vs Venezuela, Spain vs Georgia, Wales vs Belgium, Estonia vs Italy and Northern Ireland vs Germany, all matches provided from our streams live game pages.
Portugal next game:
Portugal vs Ireland kick-off time (11-10-2025):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+7: 02:45
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+4.30: 00:15
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+2: 21:45
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 20:45
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 19:56
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 16:45
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 15:45
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 12:45
Sources: ronaldo7.net / theguardian.com / espn.com