No matter what side of the debate you stand on when it comes to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s claims to be the best player of all time, it is safe to say that both are elite. While Messi was crafted in the Barcelona academy and looked for a long time like he would be a one-club player, Ronaldo’s career has taken him to several of the best European clubs. The Portuguese legend may have started his path to greatness in his home country (kind of as he is from the island of Madeira, after all), but it wasn’t long before the big guns came calling. Here is a look at the club history of CR7.
Cristiano Ronaldo club history. Cristiano Ronaldo’s senior career has seen him play for four teams in four countries. He started at Sporting Lisbon after coming through their youth academy before moving to England and Manchester United. After developing from a prodigy to the finished article while at Old Trafford, CR7 moved to Spanish giants Real Madrid, where he would create a fierce rivalry in La Liga with Messi. Ronaldo moved to Italy and Juventus after almost ten years in the Spanish Capital, spending three seasons with the Old Lady of Italian football before returning to the Red Devils in England.
Sporting Lisbon (2002-2003)
Sporting Lisbon snapped up Ronaldo when he went on a three-day trial as a 12-year-old while still living on the island of Madeira. The fee to sign him from the Madeira club of Nacional was £1,500, and Ronaldo moved to the town of Alcochete near Lisbon to link up with and learn his craft at Sporting’s youth academy. Notably, Ronaldo underwent a heart procedure to correct his tachycardia, a condition which, if left untreated, would have caused CR7 to retire from football before his journey even really began.
Ronaldo excelled with the Portuguese giants. The biggest asset in his career at this point was his ability to dribble with the ball and take defenders on. This saw a meteoric rise through the ranks at Sporting, where manager Lazlo Boloni promoted CR7 to the first team as a 16-year-old. Ronaldo became the first player in club history to play for the U16s, U17s, U18s, B-team, and first XI in the same season.
His rise continued into his debut in the Primeira Liga, and Sporting – a selling club by top European standards – was open to offers. Liverpool and boss Gerard Houllier were contacted, as was Barcelona president Joan Laporta. Arsenal Wenger of Arsenal was also interested. In the end, Manchester United pulled the trigger after playing against Ronaldo and losing 3-1 to Sporting in an August 2003 friendly. The game convinced Alex Ferguson that Ronaldo was worth the £12.24 million that United paid for his signature.
Manchester United (2003-2009)
It was at Manchester United that Ronaldo transformed from a precocious talent into a devastating all-around footballer. Much of this credit has to go to Ferguson and his staff. This group took everything good about Ronaldo’s game and managed to fine-tune it into a player that was less about the tricks and flicks (as he was early on in England) and instead became the finished product.
There are many superlatives to note about Ronaldo, individually and as a team player. One that must be mentioned is that his first Ballon d’Or award, the award given to the best player in the world, was won playing for Manchester United in 2008. This was the first time the award had been given to a Premier League player since 2001 (Michael Owen), and as of 2022, he is still the last Premier League player to take the trophy.
Ronaldo scored 118 goals for United across 292 games. He won the Premier League three times, the FA Cup once, and was part of the United side that won the Champions League at the end of the 2007-08 season.
Real Madrid (2009-2018)
If Ronaldo honed his career at United, then it moved to the next level at the Bernabeu. Ronaldo was virtually unplayable in the mid-2010s when he won a further four Ballon d’Or awards over the span of five years (2013-2017). His five awards are the second most in history behind only his great rival Lionel Messi.
His transfer to La Liga, to the same league as the Argentine, kicked off the conversation about who is the greater player out of Messi and Ronaldo. As a goal scorer, Ronaldo was ridiculous in Spain. He scored an insane 438 goals in 450 games, never scoring less than 42 in a full season and hitting 61 in all competitions during the 2014-15 campaign.
His honors list with Real is interesting. He only won La Liga twice, with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid causing Real frustration in their bid to win more Spanish titles. He did, however, win the Champions League a stunning four times, including a streak of three times in a row from 2015 to 2018. That level of dominance is almost impossible to achieve in the Champions League, with no other team having even won it back-to-back (never mind three times in a row since AC Milan in 1988-89 and 1989-90.
Juventus (2018-2021)
Italy beckoned next for CR7 as he moved to Juventus to take on the challenge of Italian football. He played for three full seasons in Serie A, scoring another 101 goals in 134 matches in all competitions. One thing about Ronaldo is that his scoring touch has always traveled and he has been able to adapt his game as he had gotten older. Always a threat in the air thanks to a prodigious leap, Ronaldo worked a different style in Italy as a central striker after spending the majority of his time in Spain cutting in from the wing in trademark fashion.
Manchester United (2021-??)
Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United may not have been a wild success, but it is far from the disaster that some had portrayed. Ronaldo had to fit into a broken system, and in 2021-22, he was often United’s sole shining light as he scored 18 Premier League goals. In 2022-23, Ronaldo scored his 700th competitive club goal, most likely becoming the first player ever to reach that mark. Romario and Pele counted hundreds of goals from exhibition and friendly matches toward their claimed totals of over 1,000 goals.
All in all, it is safe to say that Cristiano Ronaldo has had quite a career.
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Cristiano Ronaldo's Club History
Cristiano Ronaldo's senior career has seen him play for four teams in four countries. He started at Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, where he came through their youth academy. After his time at Sporting Lisbon, Ronaldo moved to England and joined Manchester United. He then made a transfer to Real Madrid in Spain, where he had a highly successful period. After almost ten years in Madrid, Ronaldo moved to Italy and joined Juventus. He spent three seasons with Juventus before returning to Manchester United in England.
Sporting Lisbon (2002-2003)
Ronaldo began his professional career at Sporting Lisbon. He joined the club after going on a three-day trial as a 12-year-old. Ronaldo's talent was quickly recognized, and he progressed through the ranks at Sporting Lisbon. He became the first player in the club's history to play for the U16s, U17s, U18s, B-team, and first XI in the same season. Ronaldo's performances attracted attention from clubs like Liverpool, Barcelona, and Arsenal, but it was Manchester United who ultimately signed him for a fee of £12.24 million.
Manchester United (2003-2009)
At Manchester United, Ronaldo transformed from a promising talent into a world-class player. Under the guidance of manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo's game was refined and he became a more complete footballer. During his time at Manchester United, Ronaldo won numerous titles, including three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League in the 2007-08 season. He also won his first Ballon d'Or award in 2008, becoming the first Premier League player to win the prestigious individual award since 2001.
Real Madrid (2009-2018)
Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid took his career to new heights. He became one of the most prolific goal scorers in the history of the club and formed a fierce rivalry with Lionel Messi, who was playing for Barcelona at the time. Ronaldo won four Ballon d'Or awards during his time at Real Madrid, further cementing his status as one of the greatest players of his generation. He scored an incredible 438 goals in 450 games for Real Madrid and won the UEFA Champions League four times with the club.
Juventus (2018-2021)
After his successful stint at Real Madrid, Ronaldo moved to Juventus in Italy. Despite being in the later stages of his career, Ronaldo continued to excel and adapt his game. He scored 101 goals in 134 matches in all competitions for Juventus. Ronaldo played as a central striker in Italy, showcasing his versatility and goal-scoring prowess. His time at Juventus saw him win two Serie A titles with the club.
Return to Manchester United (2021-??)
In 2021, Ronaldo made a highly anticipated return to Manchester United. Although his second spell at the club has not been as successful in terms of team achievements, Ronaldo has continued to make an impact individually. In the 2021-22 season, he scored 18 Premier League goals for Manchester United. In addition, Ronaldo reached a significant milestone by scoring his 700th competitive club goal, making him likely the first player ever to achieve this feat.
Cristiano Ronaldo's career has been filled with remarkable achievements and records. His performances for various clubs have solidified his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
I hope this information provides a comprehensive overview of Cristiano Ronaldo's club history. If you have any more specific questions or need further details, feel free to ask!
