1. The Early Days At Sporting Lisbon

Cristiano Ronaldo began his professional football career at Sporting Lisbon in Portugal. Born in Madeira, he joined the Sporting academy at the age of 12. Ronaldo’s outstanding talent was quickly recognised as he impressed in youth tournaments and was promoted to the first team in 2002, aged just 17.

The most memorable match during this period was when Sporting Lisbon faced Manchester United in a friendly in 2003. Ronaldo’s excellent performance caught the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson, and shortly afterwards, he joined Manchester United, opening the first chapter in his journey to conquer the football world.

2. Shining at Manchester United (2003-2009)

Ronaldo joined Manchester United in 2003 for £12.24 million, becoming the most expensive teenager in the club’s history at the time. He wore the iconic number 7 shirt, a number previously worn by United legends such as George Best, Eric Cantona, and David Beckham. At Old Trafford, Ronaldo quickly made a name for himself.

During his six seasons with Manchester United, Ronaldo won three Premier League titles (2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09), one FA Cup, two League Cups, and the pinnacle was the 2008 UEFA Champions League. That same year, Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or, cementing his status as one of the world’s best players.

In the 2007-08 season, Ronaldo scored 42 goals in 49 matches, an impressive number for a winger. He was named the Premier League Player of the Year and also finished as the Champions League top scorer with 8 goals, helping Manchester United win the European Cup.

3. The Era of Success at Real Madrid (2009-2018)

In 2009, Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid for a then world record transfer fee of 94 million euros. This was the greatest period of Ronaldo’s career, when he continuously broke records and conquered a series of major titles.

At Real Madrid, Ronaldo scored 450 goals in 438 matches, becoming the player with the most goals in the history of the club. He and Real Madrid won 4 UEFA Champions League titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), including 3 consecutive titles from 2016 to 2018, an unprecedented feat in the history of the tournament.

Along with that, Ronaldo won 4 Ballon d’Or (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) during his time at Real Madrid, affirming that he is one of the greatest players in history. In addition, he also won 2 La Liga championships, 2 King’s Cups, 3 European Super Cups and 3 FIFA Club World Cups.

One of Ronaldo’s most memorable moments at Real Madrid was his bicycle kick against Juventus in the 2018 Champions League quarter-finals. This goal not only demonstrated excellent technique but also made fans around the world admire.

4. New Challenge At Juventus (2018-2021)

After nearly a decade of glory at Real Madrid, Ronaldo decided to seek a new challenge when he joined Juventus in the summer of 2018 for a transfer fee of 100 million euros. In his first season, he helped Juventus win the Serie A championship and was named the best player of the tournament.

During his three seasons at Juventus, Ronaldo continued to maintain his impressive scoring form and became one of the team’s key players. Although he could not win the Champions League with Juventus, Ronaldo still made his mark with many important goals and was the top scorer in Serie A in the 2020-2021 season.

5. Return to Manchester United (2021)

In the summer of 2021, Ronaldo made a surprise return to Manchester United after more than a decade away. His return created a huge wave of excitement among fans. In his second debut match for United, Ronaldo scored twice to help the team win 4-1 against Newcastle United, confirming that he still has a lot to contribute.

This return is not only about football but also about symbolism, as Ronaldo once again dons the legendary number 7 shirt and continues to write the story of one of the greatest players in Manchester United history.

6. Success at National Team Level

In addition to his success at club level, Ronaldo has also made a strong mark at the national team level. He made his debut for Portugal in 2003 and quickly became an irreplaceable pillar. Ronaldo’s greatest achievement with the team was winning the Euro 2016 championship, when Portugal defeated France in the final to win the tournament for the first time.

Ronaldo also helped Portugal win the 2019 UEFA Nations League, asserting his presence not only at club level but also on the international stage. With over 110 goals for the national team, Ronaldo is currently the highest scorer in the history of world football at the team level.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is not only a great player but also a global symbol of hard work, perseverance and the spirit of never-ending improvement. From his early days at Sporting Lisbon to his successes at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and the Portuguese national team, Ronaldo’s career has been a series of great milestones. Even in his 30s, Ronaldo continues to conquer new heights and affirms that class is forever.