cristiano ronaldo football shirt

Much can be said about the illustrious career of Cristiano Ronaldo. For years, Cristiano Ronaldo was a pioneer of football. His first time on the big stage was on 29 September 2002, when he was 17—he played for Sporting CP against Braga. On October 7 of the same year, he played against Moreirense and scored two goals in the 3-0 win.

He didn't even realise that this would be his career's first of many feats back then. Though his career wasn't always easy, many more trophies, personal and team records were set, and game rules were broken. From there, his fame sent ripples throughout the football fandom.

His Early Life

Ronaldo was born into a family with three other kids, with him as the youngest. His siblings were a year and eleven years older than him. He spent most of his time at home with his family. The school was smooth sailing until he threw a chair at a teacher, which led to his expulsion.

The expulsion did not stop him from pursuing his passion for football; he'd been playing since he was eight years old, so he only needed to improve his skills a little bit. After a trial, this hard work and dedication landed him recruitment by Nacional in 1995. He had been playing for the club at an early age, so there was no doubt that he would be able to play well.

His Time at Sporting CP

At Sporting CP, Cristiano Ronaldo began developing his footballing skills. He played at every age level, from Under-16 to B team, and eventually ended up on the first team, where he made his debut. In a remarkable match against Moreirense, he scored two goals and led Manchester United to a 3–0 victory. Eventually, they signed him to play on their squad.

His Time at Manchester United

In 2003, superstar Ronaldo caught the eye of Manchester United, who recruited him into the club. Sir Alex Ferguson was so impressed by the player's performance that he continued to sign many of his players. Ronaldo led the club to three league titles and, more importantly, in 2008, to the European title as well. For five years, he played in a total of 196 games for Manchester United, scoring 84 goals during his time with the team.

His Time with Real Madrid

In 2009, Ronaldo moved from one of the biggest clubs in the world, Manchester United, to the team that had just defeated his team in the Champions League final, Real Madrid, after they paid him $133 million. 

He scored 33 goals in his first season and 40 goals in his second season. Both stats were record-breaking league feats that helped Real Madrid become one of just three teams to win a domestic cup competition with a perfect record.

The following year was another eventful season in his illustrious career. He ended it with 49 goals, making it almost too easy for Real Madrid to capture their first La Liga title since 2008. The next season was also iconic, as he scored a total of 60 goals, helping Real Madrid win their long-sought UEFA Champions League title.

Conclusion

Overall, fans who watched Cristiano Ronaldo play today share a rare privilege: they saw a player who could be considered one of the greatest ever to touch a football. Not only a great athlete but an entertaining personality, his legend will endure for many years, if not decades.

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