The Past, Present and Future of Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best football players of all time. The Portuguese footballer has played in some of the top leagues of the world: England, Spain and Italy.

Unfortunately, Cristiano Ronaldo's final years on the field have not been all that they could have been. The Portuguese forward has gone from Real Madrid to Juventus to Manchester United with a lackluster performance.

It was announced, amid the Qatar 2022 World Cup, that Ronald would depart the Red Devils. All done through a written statement.

Picture: Instagram - @manchesterunited

Cristiano Ronald and Manchester United are ending their relationship immediately and in mutual agreement. The Red Devils thank him for his service in a short, straightforward text that doesn't seem the best farewell for the Portuguese footballer.

Whether you like it or not, one can't deny Cristiano Ronaldo's career is nothing short of impressive. Let's have a look at some highlights of his time on the field.

After all, the Portuguese forward was chosen as the Best Player of the 21st Century by the Globe Soccer Awards. Let's see why.

Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Funchal, a town on the Portuguese island of Madeira, on February 5, 1985. He was the fourth child of a very humble family: His mother was a school cook and his father was a gardener.

At age 8, the Portuguese footballer began playing at the Clube Futebol Andorinha of Santo Antônio, one of the poorest areas of the island. Two years later, he joined the Clube Desportivo Nacional.

Ronaldo's extreme thinness was a cause of concern among the coaches, who would give him food after each training.

Neighbors of Cristiano Ronaldo's childhood home would complain about how he would be in the streets, late at night, playing football. Teachers also protested about his school performance.

In August 1997, Cristiano Ronald took a flight to Lisbon with representatives of Sporting CP that would change his life forever.

According to statements by a former roommate made to the Portuguese website Sábado, the only object Ronaldo had in his closet in the club dorms was a picture of his family.

His humble origins and Madeira accent gave him problems in his first months at Sporting CP. His parents didn't allow him to return home since he was the only hope the family had to get out of poverty. Ronaldo was only 12.

As a teenager, Cristiano Ronaldo would make extra money by picking balls for Sporting CP's adult division. He would also pick up the trash at the stadium, much to the derision of his teammates.

One of the cornerstones of Cristiano Ronaldo's life is his mother, Dolores Aveiro. She can always be seen next to her son.

Like her son, Dolores Aveiro has always been a fighter. She managed to support her family after losing her husband to drinking and, even after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, she doesn't slow down.

"He's one of the toughest players I've ever seen, one of the most dedicated footballers I've seen in my life", says Luiz Felipe Scolari, former manager of the Portuguese National Team, in an interview for 'Zero Zero'.

Felipe Scolari brought in Ronaldo to play against Russia on September 6, 2005, the very same night Ronaldo's dad passed away. “I can't do anything for my father today, so I will play and go”, he said later at a press conference.

The Portuguese footballer signed for Manchester United in 2003 and would remain with the Red Devils until 2009. There, he would get his iconic number 7 and win the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or.

The Portuguese footballer was transferred from the Red Devils to Real Madrid in 2009, the biggest football contract at the time. Over 85,000 attended to his welcoming at Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium.

Ronaldo played nine seasons with Real Madrid, becoming one of the best forwards in the team's history. The Portuguese footballer had 450 goals out of 438 matches. That's over one goal per game!

During the Cristiano Ronaldo years, Real Madrid managed to win four Champions League tournaments, three of them in a row. Plus the Portuguese forward also picked up four Ballons d'Or.

On July 2018, after snatching the Champions League tournament for Real Madrid one more time, the Portuguese footballer announced that he would leave the team for Italy's Juventus. The Turin club paid 100 million euros (over 104 million US dollars) for the then-33-year-old player.

In the summer of 2021, Ronaldo was meant to sign a contract with Manchester City, but he was convinced by Alex Ferguson and Bruno Fernandes to return to Man U.

At the same time that Cristiano Ronald grew as an athlete, he was also developing successful business ventures. In 2015, he became the wealthiest footballer in the world, with a worth of 210 million euros (circa 218 million euros).

Forbes reported in a November 2021 piece that the Portuguese footballer had become a billionaire by that point. To top that, his Manchester United contract made him the best-paid athlete in the Premier League.

One of Cristiano Ronaldo's most successful venues has been fashion, with his clothing brand that has been a hit around the globe.

Something that has helped him through his life is exercise and nutrition. Besides not drinking or smoking, Ronaldo maintains his body with 7% body fat and 50% of muscle mass.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become such an icon that he even has a statue in his hometown of Funchal, on the island of Madeira.

Despite his fame, the Portuguese footballer has always kept his romantic life to himself. Of course, he couldn't hide his relationship with model Irina Shayk from 2010 to 2015.

In the summer of 2016, Ronaldo began dating Georgina Rodriguez. One year later, they had their first child, a daughter called Alana. It was the third child of the Portuguese footballer.

Cristiano Ronaldo's previous children were born through surrogacy and were raised with the help of his mother. Another daughter was born in April 2022.

Cristiano Ronaldo has also been connected with many charities, particularly those focused on children in need. He's known to visit children's hospitals and even pay for a few surgeries out of his pocket.

A little-known fact is that Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't have tattoos because otherwise, he wouldn't be able to donate blood, which he does regularly.

Truly, the world of football won't be the same after Cristiano Ronaldo retires.