Christiano Ronaldo, or what fans like to call him the GOAT, is best known for his powerful goals and record-breaking career. However, from the past few years it’s his face that has been making headlines and not his footwork. Recent photos of the football legend that circulated online created a frenzy over the internet. Fans couldn’t help but notice some small but striking changes to his face. Naturally, the internet did what it’s best known for, speculate. Has Ronaldo gone through some ‘knife’ or is he just aging like a fine Portuguese wine?
Ronaldo, who is now 40, has been in the public eye since his teenage days at Sporting CP and then Manchester United. During his early days, the young forward player was known for his boyish features, narrow jawline and expressive brows. But recently, his physique has become more chiseled, and so has his face. Some say it’s just aging but some feel it’s more than time and training that has shaped his looks.
“His jawline looks sharper, and his forehead barely moves when he speaks in interviews,” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter). “That’s not just gym work.” Others defended the star. “People age. He’s been under pressure and in the spotlight for two decades of course he looks different!” another user posted. The speculation was not limited to fans but even experts joined the conversation to hyper analyze his facial features.
“Ronaldo appears to have a very sculpted face now, especially around the cheekbones and jaw,” said Dr. Miriam Holt, a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles. “While some of that can be attributed to genetics and a disciplined fitness routine, the smoothness of his forehead and the volume under his eyes suggest he may have had Botox and dermal fillers. If so, it’s been done very subtly and professionally.”
@spokensincerely spot on, botox, rhinoplasty & surgeries has fooled the casuals, he can’t even grow facial hair cause of the chemical on his face, he should be thanking his surgeons, cristiano ronaldo is the harvey weinstein of football https://t.co/8tWEUd2bcp pic.twitter.com/g6KkxikTXg
— Tyler Durden (@TylerDurden_me) June 17, 2025
Dr. Holt was quick to clarify that there’s no shame in enhancement. “In the world of high-profile athletes and celebrities, these procedures are extremely common. It’s part of maintaining their public image.”
What makes the conversation even more heated is the fact that Ronaldo has never confirmed any cosmetic work. He has however opened up about his intricate grooming routines and once admitted undergoing hair transplantation. He is said to have undergone the procedure at a clinic he co-owns in Spain. “Taking care of yourself isn’t vanity,” Ronaldo once told Men’s Health. “It’s discipline.”
Ronaldo trying to cry that Botox ain’t moving an inch
— Banks (@Banks_TF3) June 8, 2025
The debate hasn’t come to an end of course, and the rage continues online. The player’s side-by-side photos have gone viral on Instagram and Reddit. Especially from 2006 to 2024, his face seems to have undergone immense changes. These posts have thousands of comments dissecting everything from his eyebrows to his skin texture. His loyal fans have defended him by saying that photo filters and lighting have played a major role in changing public perception.
So, is it botox or just aging? The truth may be somewhere in between. Because as everyone knows, Ronaldo is undeniably an athlete who takes his appearance very seriously. He has been a model, fashion icon and a brand ambassador for years. His youthful charismatic looks could be nature, nurture (or needles), one thing’s for sure, he’s still one of the most recognizable and talked about faces in sports.
