Cristiano Ronaldo is a name that does not need an introduction for football lovers across the globe. He is considered as the father of the greatest footballers in the history of the game. From the beginning of his career, and through his journey into achieving global football legend status, he has singlehandedly performed miracles that have enabled him to become and stay as one of the most treasured athletes. In this article, Bettingvoice will breakdown some of the career accomplishments, analysis, and unique traits that transformed Cristiano Ronald into the best footballer of all time.
Hometown and entrepreneurial journey
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Areiros was born on the 5th of February, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, in Portugal. Coming from a poorly privileged family background , Ronaldo encountered myriad challenges in the beginning stages of life. But he did have this one particular obsession with soccer, which enabled and motivated him to push through and strive to achieve his end goal.
Ronaldo’s talent in football surfaced as a child as he dreamed to become a professional footballer, and joined one of the most reputable clubs, Sporting CP, at the age of 12. This was a crucial stage in his career as he began to receive training and polished his skills. His remarkable talent, along with the determination and hard work he put in to nurture that talent, helped him gain a lot of attention from scouts across Europe.
Step into the world
Cristiano Ronaldo realized his dream when he signed a contract with Manchester United in 2003, right after turning 18. It was Sir Alex Ferguson who single handedly changed the trajectory of Ronaldo’s career: as his coach at Manchester United, he guided Ronaldo on his journey toward becoming an emerging star at the club. Ronaldo was an incredible athlete so it comes as no surprise that he was frequently scoring goals since day one of joining the premier league. With impressive skills in dribbling, speed, and strong striking power, Ronaldo quickly emerged as one of the best.
Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United
Conquer the first titles
Ronaldo remained a prodigy the moment he stepped onto the plane to Manchester United. At first, it seemed incredibly difficult to step in the shoes of David Beckham, but Ronaldo proved himself immediately during his first season at Old Trafford. By 2007 and 2008, Ronaldo had reached his zenith, becoming a globally recognized name after making history by scoring 42 goals in a season and guiding Manchester to claim the Premier league and champions league trophies. This truly set the stage for the incredible career of Cristiano Ronaldo.
On top of that, Ronaldo won the FIFA Golden Ball award in 2008, marking an impressive achievement in his career. While playing for Manchester United, Ronaldo was able to win a variety of titles, including 3 straight Premier League titles, 1 Champions League and a multitude of domestic cups.
Constructed balance and explicitly defined Manchester United style
Ronaldo started playing for Man United and he did not only improve his technique but grown in maturity as a player. He started excelling with his fancy footwork, precise long range shots, and notably strong headers. His exceptional speed, combined with his dribbling skills, makes him a danger to every team he comes up against.
Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid
Spectacular seasons at White Vulture
In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo transferred to Real Madrid for a then world record fee of 94 million euros. At this point, Ronaldo was already regarded as one of the best players in the club’s history. These were the ‘sag’ years of his career with Real Madrid. They were by far the peak years of Ronado’s career with most achievements coming his way during this period. He claimed multiple titles such as 4 Champions League trophies, 2 La Liga titles, and 2 Spanish King’s Cups.
In incredible achievement, Ronaldo leid at Real Madrid for 9 years where he scored 450 goals in 438 matches! This astonishing feat resulted him achieving the most goals in a club in history, outdoing Alfredo Di Stefano and Raul.
At Real Madrid, Ronaldo has played with a lot of star players, and some of them are Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Gareth Bale. With the addition of Ronaldo, the team was equipped with superb firepower and formidable scoring ability. The chemistry with Benzema often comes as a pleasant surprise in the style of play for Real Madrid fans. The duo has good synergy making them win crucial matches quite frequently.
Ronaldo made headlines in 2018 by joining Juventus, a top tier Serie A club. Now, even Ronaldo being in the later stages of his career, he still dominates in Italy. Ronaldo undoubtedly did not achieve the same level of success with Juventus when compared to his time in United or Madrid, but he did play a huge part in the Juventus winning two Serie A titles.
Ronaldo continues to impress with his performances at Juventus, scoring crucial goals for the team. He is a constant threat to opposing defenses when he is on the pitch, and his ability to finish with both feet and his head makes him one of the best.
Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United (second time)
Return to Old Trafford
In 2021, the transfer window opened with many surprises. One of the most surprising was Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer back to Manchester United. He received a warm welcome during his return, and the impact that he had on the field was evident from the very start. Ronaldo helped the club with scoring, enabling the team to have superb performances, but he could not help the club lift any major trophies. Even more impressive, Ronaldo was able to maintain impressive scoring form throughout and solidify his place as a key member of the squad.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s achievements and awards
Golden Ball and Individual Titles
Cristiano Ronaldo’s greatest achievements are five FIFA Ballons d’Or crowned to him which competes only with Lionel Messi in terms of enjoyment. This embodithes Ronaldo’s greatness and class during his entire soccer career. Individual prizes are countless, he also got the European Golden Shoe, UEFA Best Player title amongst many others.
Scoring achievements
Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers, and his record of scoring more than 800 goals throughout his career in major club tournaments alone highlights that. He single-handedly broke the record of scoring in five consecutive World Cups and is ever-present as a fearless icon in all international fixtures.
Playing style and outstanding qualities
Speed and stamina
Even at 30, Ronaldo continues to showcase an incredible physique. His speed and strength, along with his ability to engage in vigorous hand-to-hand combat, give him an upper hand over other players. The combination of unmatched physical power along with individual skill allows Ronaldo to be a constant threat to defenders, making him virtually unstoppable.
Impressive scoring ability
Ronaldo single-handedly redefined the beautiful game, possessing the ability to score from every angle imaginable. He ranges from long shots and headers to direct free kicks – and the more difficult the goal is, the better it gets. It’s safe to say that Ronaldo’s goals have boosted the viewership of football single-handedly as the sheer beauty is before anyone’s eyes.
Perseverance and fighting spirit
One of the main things that set Ronaldo apart from his contemporaries is his willingness to never give up. Rather, he is serious in his work and pays attention to training rigorously in order to ensure success. It is this perseverance and motivation that has helped maintain the peak of his career for so long.
In Summary
Without a doubt, Cristiano Ronaldo is unmatched when it comes to appreciating football. Ronaldo is one of the most loved and decorated athletes history has ever had. 38 years down the line, Ronaldo still shows up on the field ready for action which is plain to see… the man is a legend.
