Cristiano Ronaldo's Journey Back To Manchester United
August 6th, 2003: a day that would change the world of sport forever. As a skinny bright-faced teenager, virtually unknown to the rest of the world, made his way onto the pitch for his professional debut, lining up against the Premier League and Champions League winning side, most fans believed he would be run ragged by the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. Little did anyone know that 16-year-old kid would go on to be arguably the most marketable name in sports and go on to receive the Ballon d’Or five times along with 32 major trophies. Everyone knows the name Cristiano Ronaldo, but many do not know his story.
Cristiano Ronaldo is known as one of the greatest players to ever grace the game of soccer. However, many people don’t know the background of one of the most well-known men on the face of the planet. Born in the seaside town of Funchal, Portugal, to the name of Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, Ronaldo was the youngest of four children. “Ronaldo” was added on in honor of his father’s favorite actor, Ronald Reagan.
His first introduction to the sport of soccer was through his father, who worked as an equipment manager for the local team, Andorinha. Although he may have introduced his son to the beautiful game, Ronaldo’s father created more bad than good for his family. Known as a heavy drinker in their community, he left Ronaldo’s mother to do the majority of the heavy lifting for the family. She would work as a cook and cleaner for people all around Madeira, although even that did not always put food on the table for the family. Ronaldo and other kids who played soccer in his area, all struggling from financial insecurity, would end up going to the local McDonalds to get leftover hamburgers from kind workers.
Even with his family problems, Ronaldo would not let that halt him from his eventual goal of becoming a professional soccer player. His godfather, Fernando Sousa, recalled to reporters when asked about Ronaldo’s childhood “All he wanted to do was play [soccer].” He continued saying, “He loved the game so much he’d miss meals or escape out of his bedroom window with a ball when he was supposed to be doing his homework.” By the age of ten, Ronaldo was seen as a prodigy by many clubs around Portugal and would go on to sign with his professional local team Nacional de liha da Madeira. Then, at the age of sixteen, he signed for Sporting Club de Portugal in 2001, where he would accelerate beyond anyone’s wildest imaginations.
After turning half the Manchester United defense into his personal training cones, Manchester United players told manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, to buy Ronaldo immediately. So that’s exactly what he did. Ronaldo cost Manchester United sixteen million dollars from Sporting Lisbon, a record price for someone his age.. Ronaldo had a difficult time at first settling in Manchester, but under the leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson, he grew into a terrifying prospect for opposing defenses.
In his first three years, however, he was called a one-trick pony with his constant step-overs and lack of end product. He didn’t only suffer from fan disappointment but also family heartbreak. His father passed in 2005 due to alcohol-related kidney problems despite Ronaldo’s constant pleas for him to go to rehab. 2 years later he nearly lost his mother as well, due to a severe case of breast cancer. Thankfully, Ronaldo helped her get the best treatment possible and she soon got better to the relief of the family. All of this along with sending off Manchester United teammates Wayne Rooney during a match against England at the Euros in 2006, he wasn’t exactly a fan favorite.
However, in the 2006-07 season, he picked up his effort massively, and with twenty-three goals and twenty-two assists along with winning the Premier League, he was named PFA Player Of The Year. He continued his great progress the next season netting forty-two goals and assisting eight times overall to help Manchester United to yet another Premier League title and the Champions League, claimed after a penalty-shootout win in Moscow against Chelsea. This would help him gain the one prize that had eluded him, The Ballon d’Or, receiving it as the best player of 2008. He followed that season up with twenty-six goals and twelve assists which finally helped him achieve his dream move to Real Madrid for a world record 110 million euros.
During his eight-year stint in Madrid Ronaldo helped Real Madrid to sixteen trophies including The Champions Leagues four more times to make him the first player to win the competition five times. He additionally won four more Ballon d’Ors, along became Real Madrid’s all-time record goalscorer with 450 goals in 438 games surpassing the record by 127 goals.
During this time he also welcomed his first of four children, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., into the world. In his own documentary, Ronaldo, his fondness for his first son is very clear from bringing him to black-tie events to playing in the backyard for hours in their free time. As a young father -- Ronaldo Jr. was born when Ronaldo was twenty-five -- learned things about himself and life that he may not have done otherwise thanks to his son. When asked if he wanted his son to become a soccer player and follow his path Ronaldo said, “I will always support my son no matter what path he chooses.” He continued saying, “Do I want him to be a football (soccer) player, of course. Although if that’s not what he wants to do I will not be upset because I just want him to have a happy life.”
Despite being one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo had to wait until the summer of 2016 to get his hands on an international trophy. This came after a 109th minute winning goal from substitute Eder to help Portugal to their first trophy, The European Championship, in their history. Sadly for Ronaldo, he was subbed off in the first half after suffering a knee injury but motivated his teammates from the sidelines as he motivated them alongside manager, Fernando Santos, to an emotional victory for the Portuguese. Portugal didn’t fare as well in the World Cup in 2018, however, as they were knocked out by Uruguay in the Round Of 16 but since then Ronaldo’s has continued to collect several international accolades. He added to his international trophy cabinet in 2019 when he won the inaugural UEFA Nations League against the Netherlands in Porto, Portugal. Then in September 2021, he broke the all-time international goalscoring record with a double against Ireland to break Iran’s Ali Daei’s record of 109 goals for his country. After helping Portugal to the European Championship, Ronaldo was given a bronze statue outside Madeira’s Airport.
In 2018 Ronaldo finished his stint in Spain after winning the Champions League for the fifth time. He decided on a move to Italy with Juventus to try and help them win their first Champions League since 1996. Despite his monster wages and scoring over a hundred times in his three years at the club, Juventus failed to win the Champions League and even lost the Italian title to Internazionale for the first time in nine years. With problems off the field also mounting, due to the financial impacts of the Coronavirus, Ronaldo was asked to leave Juventus. Sparking massive speculation on a move back to Madrid, a possible reunion with Lionel Messi at PSG, or even to Manchester City, Manchester United’s rivals, in a blockbuster deal. Many people didn’t foresee a tweet that would be released by Manchester United’s Twitter account announcing Ronaldo’s return after a twelve-year absence. Reuniting with former teammate and now manager of Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, along with former Real Madrid teammate Raphael Varane also joining, a winning mentality is being created in Manchester.
As he makes his first Champions League appearance for Manchester United for the first time since the spring of 2009. Everyone will be watching eargly to see what the boy from Madeira can do in his nineteenth season of his career. Only time will tell whether or not he can recapture his form back in the English northwest. After all the hard work will everyone involved regret bringing Ronnie home? Will he become a drain on resources at the club he and millions around the world loves? Or will he return the glory days back to Manchester United and lead them to their first major trophy in nearly half a decade? What a massive season this could be for Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United.
By Luke Birch