Did Cristiano Ronaldo Really Grow 5 cm Between World Cups?

A Sports 5 report published on June 12, 2026, examines how Cristiano Ronaldo’s listed physical profile changed across six World Cups, with the headline claim that he may have gained 5 centimeters in height over 20 years. The article notes that the Portuguese star, long regarded as one of football’s greatest players and often described as the best striker in history, has remained almost the same weight while his age, and surprisingly his height, shifted in FIFA’s records.

According to FIFA data cited in the piece, Ronaldo is listed for the 2026 World Cup as an Al Nassr player, age 41, weighing 85 kg and standing 1.89 meters tall, with a market value of 10 million euros. In 2006, when he was at Manchester United, he was listed at age 21, 78 kg, 1.84 meters and 26.5 million euros. In 2010, as a Real Madrid player, he was 25, 84 kg, 1.86 meters and worth 90 million euros. In 2014, also at Real Madrid, he was 29, 80 kg, 1.85 meters and valued at 120 million euros.

The article continues with 2018, when Ronaldo was between Real Madrid and Juventus, listed at 33, 83 kg, 1.87 meters and 100 million euros, and 2022, when he was between Manchester United and Al Nassr, listed at 37, 84 kg, 1.88 meters and 15 million euros. It also shows that his body weight has stayed within a narrow range for two decades.

As for the explanation, the report says it is almost impossible that Ronaldo truly grew 5 centimeters after age 21, since most people stop growing by then. It suggests minor adult height changes from training and body structure are possible, but says the likeliest reason is different measuring methods, different times of day, and factors such as shoes or socks during measurement.