Cristiano Ronaldo has built one of the most successful careers in football history, winning league titles in England, Spain and Italy, lifting five UEFA Champions League trophies and captaining Portugal to their first major international titles. His remarkable consistency has seen him feature in dozens of finals across club and……
Cristiano Ronaldo has built one of the most successful careers in football history, winning league titles in England, Spain and Italy, lifting five UEFA Champions League trophies and captaining Portugal to their first major international titles. His remarkable consistency has seen him feature in dozens of finals across club and international football.
However, not every showpiece occasion has ended in celebration. According to records from UEFA, FIFA and official domestic football governing bodies, Ronaldo has suffered several heartbreaking defeats in major finals during his illustrious career. Here are the 12 major finals he has lost.
1. Taça de Portugal Final (2002-03)
Opponent: FC Porto
Result: Sporting CP 0-1 FC Porto
Venue: Estádio Nacional, Oeiras
According to the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Ronaldo’s first major final ended in defeat as José Mourinho’s Porto beat Sporting CP through a goal from Derlei. It was Ronaldo’s final appearance for Sporting before completing his move to Manchester United later that summer.
2. UEFA Euro 2004 Final
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Opponent: Greece
Result: Portugal 0-1 Greece
Venue: Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
According to UEFA’s official tournament archive, Portugal entered the final as overwhelming favourites on home soil but were stunned by Greece after Angelos Charisteas scored the only goal of the match. Ronaldo, then just 19, was left in tears after the final whistle.
3. FA Cup Final (2004-05)
Opponent: Arsenal
Result: Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal (Arsenal won 5-4 on penalties)
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
According to The Football Association, Manchester United dominated much of the contest but failed to find a breakthrough. Arsenal eventually prevailed in the penalty shootout, handing Ronaldo his second major final defeat.
4. FA Cup Final (2006-07)
Opponent: Chelsea
Result: Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea (after extra time)
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
According to The FA’s official records, Ronaldo featured throughout the match as Didier Drogba’s extra-time goal secured victory for Chelsea in the first FA Cup final played at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium.
5. UEFA Champions League Final (2008-09)
Opponent: Barcelona
Result: Manchester United 0-2 Barcelona
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
According to UEFA’s Champions League archive, Ronaldo came into the final as the reigning Ballon d’Or winner and defending European champion. However, goals from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi guided Barcelona to a convincing victory.
6. Supercopa de España (2011)
Opponent: Barcelona
Result: Real Madrid 4-5 Barcelona (aggregate)
Venue: Santiago Bernabéu and Camp Nou
According to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Ronaldo scored during the two-legged Spanish Super Cup, but Barcelona edged José Mourinho’s Real Madrid 5-4 on aggregate to claim the trophy.
7. Copa del Rey Final (2012-13)
Opponent: Atlético Madrid
Result: Real Madrid 1-2 Atlético Madrid (after extra time)
Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
According to the RFEF, Ronaldo opened the scoring with a first-half header before Diego Costa equalised. Miranda’s extra-time goal secured Atlético Madrid’s first victory over Real Madrid in a final for decades.
8. Supercopa de España (2014)
Opponent: Atlético Madrid
Result: Real Madrid 1-2 Atlético Madrid (aggregate)
Venue: Santiago Bernabéu and Vicente Calderón
According to the RFEF’s competition records, Ronaldo scored in the first leg but missed the return fixture through injury as Atlético Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup.
9. Supercoppa Italiana (2019)
Opponent: Lazio
Result: Juventus 1-3 Lazio
Venue: King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh
According to Lega Serie A, Lazio produced an impressive performance to defeat Juventus and deny Ronaldo another trophy during his first season in Italy.
10. Coppa Italia Final (2019-20)
Opponent: Napoli
Result: Juventus 0-0 Napoli (Napoli won 4-2 on penalties)
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
According to Lega Serie A, neither side could find a breakthrough during normal time before Napoli converted all four penalties in the shootout to lift the Coppa Italia trophy.
11. King’s Cup Final (2023-24)
Opponent: Al Hilal
Result: Al Nassr 1-1 Al Hilal (Al Hilal won 5-4 on penalties)
Venue: King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
According to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Ronaldo converted his penalty during the shootout, but Al Hilal held their nerve by scoring all five spot-kicks to win the King’s Cup.
12. Saudi Super Cup Final (2024)
Opponent: Al Hilal
Result: Al Nassr 1-4 Al Hilal
Venue: Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium, Abha
According to the Saudi Pro League and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Ronaldo gave Al Nassr the lead before Al Hilal staged a remarkable second-half comeback, scoring four unanswered goals to retain the Saudi Super Cup.
Conclusion
Cristiano Ronaldo’s career has been defined far more by triumph than disappointment, but these 12 defeats illustrate that even football’s greatest players are not immune to heartbreak on the biggest stages.
According to UEFA, FIFA and official domestic competition records, Ronaldo has appeared in an extraordinary number of finals during his career, winning the vast majority of them. His ability to consistently reach football’s biggest occasions over more than two decades remains one of the defining features of his remarkable legacy.
