Cristiano Ronaldo profile
Name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Birth date: February 5, 1985
Birthplace: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Height: 186.5 cm
Playing position: Left/right winger, striker
First club: Sporting Lisbon
Career debut: 1999 vs Moreirense
Current club: Real Madrid
International team: Portugal
Int’l debut: August 20, 2003 vs Kazakhstan
Cristiano Ronaldo biography
Ronaldo started playing competitive football for amateur club Andorinha when he was just eight years old, and then for local team CD Nacional when he was 10. He moved to Sporting CP, one of Portugal’s largest football clubs in 1996.
Ronaldo trained in the youth team before making his senior debut in 1999 against Moreirense in which he scored a brace. He made his European debut in a Champions League qualifier against Inter.
Ronaldo first gained international attention when he played for Portugal’s youth team in UEFA U-17 Championships.
Liverpool, under manager Gérard Houllier back then, was reported to have interest in signing Ronaldo. It was also revealed later that Arsenal was closed to signing him before his move to Manchester Utd in 2003.
Ronaldo’s signature came after Sporting defeated United 3–1 in a pre-season friendly. The United players spoke enthusiastically about the winger on their way home, and suggested manager Alex Ferguson to sign the player up, which he did for a price of £12.24 million.
Ronaldo made a memorable debut for United as a substitute against Bolton; his 30 minutes performances created hype with United fans and the English media with his dazzling dribbles. He scored his first goal for the club with a free kick in a 3–0 win over Portsmouth in November.
Despite promising starts, his first two seasons at the club received mixed reviews. He’s being praised for his technique and skill, but often criticised for lack of consistency and poor decision making on the field.
Ronaldo made his senior debut for