Soccer players who reach a certain level of success almost always pick up a nickname or two. Become iconic enough, and it usually means getting a nickname that sticks.
For Cristiano Ronaldo, there’s one simple nickname that pops up more often than others. If I don’t seem like anything too creative, but a lot of people like the brevity of it.
Why is Cristiano Ronaldo Called CR7? The simple explanation is that CR7 combines Cristiano Ronaldo‘s initials, followed by his preferred number. He’s been fortunate enough to wear #7 throughout most of his career, and it’s turned into a lucky option for the Portuguese footballer.
The History of Cristiano Ronaldo and #7
Players can be very connected to a certain number if they play any team sport. For Cristiano Ronaldo, #7 was not always in the works for him. He started his career with Sporting Lisbon, wearing #28. After having a successful run with his home country’s team, he signed with Manchester United and was presented with the #7 jersey.
Wearing #7 for Manchester United is a very big deal. Players like David Beckham and George Best wore the number in the past, and a lot of expectations came with putting on that jersey. Sir Alex Ferguson believed in Ronaldo, and he delivered.
His time with Manchester United at the beginning of his career is what helps solidify Ronaldo as a true superstar. Gaining more and more affection towards #7, he decided to change his number when playing for Portugal as well. He started with #17, but switched to #7.
Ronaldo did have to go through a slight change in 2009 when he signed with Real Madrid. Raul wore #7 for the club, so he had to wear #9 for a short amount of time. Once Raul retired, Ronaldo switched to #7 once again.
Nike and the CR7 Nickname
A lot of people believe that one of the reasons why CR7 is so popular comes down to Nike. They have used CR7 in a lot of advertising with Cristiano Ronaldo, and it connects to using R9 in the past for another Ronaldo.
The Brazilian Ronaldo had a fairly basic advertising campaign, and Nike wanted to stay with a similar format to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Now that he’s solidified himself as one of the greats, Cristiano Ronaldo has an entire CR7 line of merchandise from Nike. It’s evolved into an entire brand for the player. Everything from creating his own CR7 Cristiano Ronaldo fragrance to CR7 underwear has people remembering his nickname.
Other Nicknames Used for Cristiano Ronaldo
CR7 is the most recognizable nickname for Cristiano Ronaldo at this point in his career. He has been called a few other things from time to time, and that’s expected for anyone who is an all-time great.
G.O.A.T.
G.O.A.T. is an acronym for Greatest Of All Time. This can be debated for years and years if people want. There’s no definitive answer to the greatest of all time in soccer history, but Ronaldo is certainly in the discussion. Supporters will always have his back in that regard.
Other soccer players have also been referred to as the G.O.A.T. in the past. Fans will sometimes put G.O.A.T. in front of Cristiano Ronaldo’s name so that they make a point of who they support.
The Little Bee
This name never caught on too much, but a young Cristiano Ronaldo would sometimes have The Little Bee nickname. This is because he was a smaller player, yet extremely fast. He was also a bit of a pest against taller and older players.
El Bicho
In Spanish, this nickname means bug. It’s another way to refer to him as a very pesky player who finds a way to be a nuisance for the opposition.
El Comma Donte
Back in 2013, then FIFA president Sepp Blatter admitted that he rooted more for Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo. He had a quote that said that Ronaldo acted like a commander on the field of play.
Fans and teammates had a little bit of fun with that quote, and so did Ronaldo. After celebrating a goal with a military salute, Ronaldo picked up the El Comma Donte nickname.
Cristiano
The nickname Cristiano stands out a little bit more than Ronaldo. An outstanding, all-time great player already possesses the Ronaldo nickname, so that won’t work for Cristiano. His first name is unique enough that it allows him to stand out.
Along with Cristiano, Ronaldo has also been called shorthand nicknames like Ronnie, Cris, Ron, and just CR. This isn’t much different than any other person shortening up the name a bit. His full name has seven syllables, so it’s very prone to be shortened.
Why is a Nickname For Cristiano Ronaldo so Important?
Players of a certain age will know that simply going by Ronaldo would not work for Cristiano Ronaldo. This is the name of another very famous soccer player from Brazil, and he’s not too much older than Cristiano.
Brazilian fans, in particular, are always going to be very partial to their Ronaldo. To avoid confusion, very rarely is Cristiano Ronaldo simply going by his last name.
In fact, Cristiano might be the shorthand name that appears a little bit more frequently in publications. Cristiano Ronaldo also understands the history of the game, and how respectable a player Ronaldo was during his prime.
It’s a lot like taking over someone’s number, and it would be a bad public relations move for Cristiano Ronaldo to insist on being called simply Ronaldo.
What Will Cristiano Ronaldo Be Remembered As?
Aside from using his full name Cristiano Ronaldo, CR7 is the nickname that will stick around for the longest. It’s short and sweet, and soccer fans know exactly who it is referring to.
Even after his retirement, Cristiano Ronaldo will stay relevant for a very long time. He might not have a defining nickname like some of the other greats in soccer history, but CR7 will do for him.
