Cristiano Ronaldo’s career timeline: From a boy in Sporting to a man in Manchester United

40-year-old Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo is among football's greatest, holding many records and currently playing for Al-Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s career timeline: From a boy in Sporting to a man in Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed an impressive career over the years. (via ESPN)

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, having recently turned forty, is arguably one of the greatest players to have graced the game of football. With several records to his name, the veteran forward has enjoyed an impressive career timeline.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner started out his youth career at Andorinha, later moving on to play for Sporting CP. Ronaldo made his professional debut in 2002 at the age of 17. Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was determined to sign Ronaldo, after noting his talents in a 3-1 victory for Sporting CP over United in August, 2003. He subsequently made a €12 million move to England, as a teenager. Cristiano went on to forge his legacy at Old Trafford, winning three EPL titles and a UCL title.

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Collective and individual success with Man Utd highlighted the Portuguese’s arrival on the world stage. In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo decided to move to Real Madrid, for a record transfer fee of €80 million. More than 80,000 fans welcomed him at the Bernabeu, eclipsing Diego Maradona’s Napoli presentation. Ronaldo went on to become the club’s record goal-scorer with 438 goals, winning two La Liga, four UCL, and three FIFA Club World Cups in the process.

Following Real Madrid’s 13th UCL victory, Cristiano Ronaldo surprisingly decided to depart the club. He attributed his transfer to contract issues and lack of support from Los Blancos president Florentino Perez. Ronaldo joined Italian giants Juventus, and enjoyed a brief spell at the club from 2018 to 2021. He won two back-to-back Serie A titles, and also became the first player to finish as a top-scorer in the English, Spanish and Italian leagues.

At the end of his contract in Italy,, Ronaldo made a fairy tale return to Manchester United. Despite finishing his only full season as the club’s top scorer, his contract was terminated in 2022 over disagreements with manager Erik ten Hag. He then moved to Al-Nassr in 2023.

Cristiano Ronaldo All-Time Stats

The Portuguese phenom is 40 years old but is chasing a record that would put him in a very special place. Ronaldo is inching closer to the 1000-goal mark in his career, a feat that would be every player’s wildest imagination. It is uncertain how much football is still left in the superstar, but his fitness and physique are testament to how determined he is despite all achievements.

ClubAppearancesGoalsAssists Trophies Won
Sporting CP31561
Manchester United346145649
Real Madrid43845013115
Juventus134101225
Al-Nassr9182191
Total104078324231
CountryAppearancesGoals AssistsTrophies Won
Portugal216135452

What’s next for Cristiano Ronaldo amid retirement rumors?

The future of Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo remains uncertain following recent disappointments with Portugal’s national team at major competitions. At 40 years old, Ronaldo might be considering international retirement at the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo retirement
Cristiano Ronaldo is not contemplating retirement, despite having recently turned 40. (via GOAL)

Despite struggles and advancing age, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner shows no sign of slowing down. Since having moved out of Europe in 2023, Ronaldo has remained on top of the scoring charts in the middle-east with Al-Nassr. He has scored 24 goals in just 27 appearances this season. Nevertheless, Ronaldo has faced criticism for not winning a title in the last few years, leaving his future uncertain.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has also shown interest in owning a network of clubs, at the end of his playing career. Should he decide to retire, he will bow out as the all-time leading goal-scorer in professional football with more than 900 strikes.

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