Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most iconic footballers in history, has achieved yet another record, reinforcing his status as one of the sport’s greatest legends by scoring in 23 of his 24 professional seasons.
Ronaldo’s professional journey began in the 2002-03 season at Sporting CP in Lisbon, Portugal, where he made his debut at 17. His first match in the Primeira Liga showcased his remarkable dribbling skills, quick reflexes, and goal-scoring talent, which soon made him a renowned name in football. This initial game marked the start of his rise to fame.
Ronaldo’s global stardom began in 2003 when he joined Manchester United. Under Sir Alex Ferguson’s mentorship, he transformed from a raw talent into a world-class player. He scored United’s first goal of his debut season against Portsmouth, leading to a 3-0 win. Over the next six seasons, his goal-scoring ability surged, playing a crucial role in United’s dominance in English football.
From 2006 to 2009, Ronaldo was instrumental in United winning three consecutive Premier League titles. During this period, he won the Premier League Golden Boot and the European Golden Shoe by scoring 42 goals in all competitions during the 2007–2008 season, a highlight of his career.
Ronaldo’s career soared further when he moved to Real Madrid in 2009 for a record-breaking £80 million. At Madrid, he netted an astounding 450 goals in just 438 games, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer. Despite scoring 33 goals in his first season, he truly cemented his status as one of the all-time greats in subsequent seasons, scoring 40 or more goals for eight straight seasons, peaking with 61 goals in 2014–2015.
Ronaldo topped the scoring charts in all competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and Copa del Rey. His legendary Champions League scoring spree saw him finish as the competition’s top scorer for six consecutive seasons, with unforgettable goals like the one against Juventus in the 2017 final and his spectacular bicycle kick against the same team in the 2018 final.
In 2018, Ronaldo made another significant move to Juventus, where he continued his prolific goal-scoring in Serie A. Even at 33, Ronaldo showed no signs of slowing down, scoring 28 goals in his first season and helping Juventus clinch the Serie A title. He set a personal record with 37 goals in the 2019–2020 season, amassing 101 goals in 134 appearances over three seasons with Juventus.
Ronaldo’s adaptability to different leagues and his consistent scoring were nothing short of remarkable. In 2021, fans worldwide rejoiced as he returned to Manchester United, where he continued to find the back of the net regularly, even in the later stages of his career.
In 2023, Ronaldo reached new heights by signing with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Professional League. Despite predictions that his goal-scoring prowess at the highest level would wane, Ronaldo defied expectations and continued scoring, showcasing his extraordinary stamina and dedication to the sport.
His goal for Al-Nassr in their fixture on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, which was the commencement of his 24th season in football became the match where he marked the record of scoring in 23 seasons out of 24 which he had played.
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