From Hollywood A-listers Paris Hilton to Kim Kardashian, Cristiano Ronaldo has made headlines with his love life. Yet, beyond the tabloid fodder and glamorous nights out, each relationship tells a different chapter in the life of one of the world’s most famous athletes. Here, we delve into the dating history of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Jordana Jardel — Early 2000s
Before Cristiano Ronaldo’s relationships with the Hollywood elites and models, there was WAG Jordana Jardel. Jordana, the sister of Brazilian footballer Mario Jardel, was reportedly one of Ronaldo’s earliest known girlfriends.
Ronaldo and Jordana Jardel dated while Ronaldo played for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal in the early 2000s, just before his career-making move to Manchester United in 2003. Ronaldo was around 18 years old, just starting to make a name for himself in professional football.
Details about their relationship are scarce, likely due to Ronaldo’s relatively lower profile at the time compared to his later fame. What is known is that their relationship was brief, lasting a few months before the young footballer moved to England for his career.
Looking back, the relationship with Jordana Jardel might seem minor in the grand scheme of Ronaldo’s love life. However, it gives an insight into the star’s life before he became one of the most recognizable faces in football, a young man on the cusp of extraordinary fame and success.
Merche Romero — 2005
Merche Romero is a Portuguese model and TV presenter known for hosting various shows on Portuguese television.
Romero and Cristiano Ronaldo’s relationship reportedly began in 2005 and lasted until 2006. The romance occurred early in Ronaldo’s career at Manchester United, where he was developing into one of the world’s top players.
While they were together, their relationship was often in the spotlight of the Portuguese press. However, they kept their relationship largely private, with Ronaldo not publicly acknowledging the relationship until after it ended.
Imogen Thomas — 2006
Welsh reality star Imogen Thomas became Ronaldo’s rebound girl after the Merche Romero romance. The reported relationship was brief and relatively low-profile compared to some of Ronaldo’s other relationships.
Soraia Chaves — 2007
After Imogen Thomas, Ronaldo became briefly linked in a fling with Portuguese actress and model Soraia Chaves. She is best known for her roles in Portuguese films, particularly the 2005 film O Crime do Padre Amaro, one of Portugal’s highest-grossing films at the time.
Gemma Atkinson — 2007
Atkinson and Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly dated for a few months in 2007. Their relationship began when Ronaldo played his fourth season at Manchester United, and Atkinson was making a name for herself on British television.
The couple maintained a low-profile relationship, rarely being photographed together. In interviews, after their four-month relationship ended, Atkinson described Ronaldo as a gentleman dedicated to his profession. During the 2006-2007 season, CR7 started demonstrating the prolific goal-scoring ability he’s now famous for. He scored 23 goals in 53 appearances in all competitions.
Nereida Gallardo — 2008
Nereida Gallardo is a Spanish model who had a relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. The pair reportedly met in a nightclub in Palma de Mallorca in January 2008.
Their relationship was relatively short-lived, lasting about seven months. Ronaldo and Gallardo were often photographed together during their relationship, attending public events and taking vacations together.
More recently, Gallardo accused Ronaldo’s current girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, of undergoing cosmetic procedures to bear a closer resemblance to Kim Kardashian.
Paris Hilton — 2009
Ronaldo and Paris Hilton were briefly linked in 2009, not long after Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid from Manchester United.
The rumors started when they were spotted together in Los Angeles, partying just days after Paris Hilton had ended her relationship with Doug Reinhardt. However, their fling was short-lived and ended after about a month.
But it was the first of Ronaldo’s flings with American celebrities. Hilton’s friend, Kim Kardashian, came next.
Kim Kardashian — 2010
In 2010, rumors briefly linked Cristiano Ronaldo and Kim Kardashian when observers spotted them together in Madrid during Kardashian’s visit to the city.
Reports suggested that they shared dinner and engaged in affectionate behavior. However, Ronaldo and Kardashian never confirmed any relationship, and it seemed to fizzle out quickly.
Irina Shayk — 2010-2015
Cristiano Ronaldo and Irina Shayk, the Russian supermodel, had a high-profile relationship from 2010 to 2015. The two made several public appearances together, from red carpets to sports events, solidifying their status as one of the world’s most glamorous couples.
However, despite a seemingly strong relationship, the couple confirmed their split in early 2015. This news marked the end of their five-year-long relationship, which had attracted significant media attention due to both their high-profile careers. Additionally, Shayk lost 11 million Instagram followers after the breakup. Shayk currently dates Tom Brady.
Lucia Villalon — 2016
Lucia Villalon is a Spanish TV reporter known for her work in sports journalism. After Cristiano Ronaldo ended his five-year relationship with Irina Shayk in 2015, he was dating Lucia Villalon.
The rumors began when Villalon posted a selfie with Ronaldo on her social media account after he had won the Ballon d’Or award. The picture sparked speculation in the media about a potential relationship between the two.
Georgina Rodríguez — 2016-current
Spanish-Argentine model Georgina Rodríguez is Ronaldo’s latest and long-term girlfriend. She met Cristiano Ronaldo at a Gucci store in Madrid where she worked, and they began dating in 2016.
Since then, their relationship has blossomed, introducing daughter Alana Martina in 2017. The couple had twins in April 2022 — a son and a daughter. However, Ronaldo later revealed the passing of the baby boy.
Ronaldo and Georgina share five children, three born from surrogate mothers, including the eldest, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. The two “broke the law” to live together in Saudi Arabia while Ronaldo plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
Why doesn’t Ronaldo marry her already? That’s a question for another day.
Photos: Instagram/cristiano, Irinashayk, imogen_thomas
