The Cristiano Ronaldo shirt history starts with a 28 in Lisbon and settles on the 7 he has worn for most of his career, with one season in a 9 at Real Madrid and a 17 for Portugal in between. Here is every number, every club and what to look for if you want one of his shirts.
Sporting CP: the 28
Ronaldo came through the Sporting academy and played his first senior season in 2002-03, wearing 28 on the green and white hoops. The shirt in the club museum in Lisbon still carries the Espírito Santo bank sponsor and the name C. RONALDO above the number.
That number followed him to England in a small way. When he joined Manchester United in the summer of 2003 he asked for 28. Sir Alex Ferguson gave him the 7 instead.
Manchester United 2003-2009: the first 7
The 7 at Old Trafford had belonged to Best, Robson, Cantona and Beckham. Ronaldo debuted in it against Bolton in August 2003 and wore it for six seasons, all of them in Nike shirts.
For collectors the United years split in two by sponsor. From 2003 to 2006 the shirts carry Vodafone. From 2006 to 2009 they carry AIG, and those are the seasons of three straight league titles, the 2008 Champions League win in Moscow and his first Ballon d'Or. A home shirt from 2007-08 with RONALDO 7 is the one most people picture.
Two things are worth checking on any United Ronaldo shirt: that the name and number match the competition the shirt was made for (league printing with Premier League sleeve badges, or the European style without them), and that the product code on the wash label fits the season. Our guide to reading a Nike product code covers the second part.
Real Madrid 2009-2018: a 9, then the 7
At Real Madrid the 7 belonged to Raúl, so Ronaldo spent his first season, 2009-10, in the 9. When Raúl left for Schalke in the summer of 2010, the 7 was his. That makes a 2009-10 RONALDO 9 shirt the odd one out in his whole club career, and a good one to own.
All his Madrid shirts are adidas. The sponsor tells you the era: bwin on the shirts up to 2013, Fly Emirates from 2013-14. The Emirates years cover the four Champions League wins, in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. For the label, see our guide to reading an adidas product code. Browse what we have in Real Madrid shirts.
Juventus 2018-2021 and the return to United
At Juventus he kept the 7, in adidas shirts with the Jeep sponsor, and won Serie A in 2019 and 2020. See our Juventus shirts.
In 2021 he went back to Manchester United. Edinson Cavani had the 7 and moved to 21, so Ronaldo wore 7 again, this time in an adidas shirt with TeamViewer on the front. Since 2023 he has worn 7 for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Older United shirts are in our Manchester United collection.
Portugal: from 17 to 7
For Portugal he started in 17. He wore it at Euro 2004 on home soil and at the 2006 World Cup, while Luís Figo had the 7. After Figo stopped playing for the national team, the 7 went to Ronaldo, and he has worn it ever since, including at Euro 2016, which Portugal won. Every one of those shirts is Nike. A 17 from Euro 2004 is the early one collectors look for. See our Portugal shirts.
Cristiano Ronaldo shirts: FAQ
What number did Cristiano Ronaldo wear at Sporting?
28. He asked for the same number at Manchester United in 2003, but was given the 7.
Why did Ronaldo wear 9 at Real Madrid?
Raúl wore 7 when Ronaldo arrived in 2009. Ronaldo played 2009-10 in the 9 and took the 7 after Raúl left in 2010.
What number does Ronaldo wear for Portugal?
7. He wore 17 at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, when Luís Figo still had the 7.
How do I find the right size in a vintage Ronaldo shirt?
Sizes changed a lot between the Nike United shirts and the slimmer adidas cuts that came later. Compare the length and width on the product page with a shirt you own, using our measurement guide.
Every shirt at Nostalgic Football Shirts is one of one, so a Ronaldo shirt in your size is there until someone else takes it. All of them are in our Cristiano Ronaldo shirts collection.