Cristiano Ronaldo

Synopsis

The definitive biography of Cristiano Ronaldo, named Football Book of the Year at the Cross Sports Book Awards 2016

Fully updated to include the 2017-18 season and Ronaldo's transfer to Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time, a dream he pursued from the age of just twelve when he left his humble origins on Madeira behind.

It wasn't long before he had the biggest clubs in Europe knocking on his door, but it was Manchester United who won the race for his signature. Under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo developed into the complete footballer and athlete, winning three league titles and a Champions League along the way.

He then became the biggest galáctico of them all when he transferred to Real Madrid for a record-breaking fee. Unprecedented success in the Champions League and a record-equalling five Ballons d'Or followed, before his sensational move to Juventus in the summer of 2018.

Guillem Balagué, respected football journalist and expert on the Spanish game, provides the definitive account of a twenty-first-century footballing icon.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Early Years

* Ronaldo's humble beginnings on the Portuguese island of Madeira
* His early passion for football and exceptional talent
* Realization of his potential by Sporting Lisbon at age 12

Example:

At the age of 11, Ronaldo was playing for local club Andorinha when Sporting Lisbon scout Luís Filipe Madeira noticed his extraordinary skills. Madeira invited Ronaldo to join Sporting's academy, which he did in 1997, marking the beginning of his professional football career.

Chapter 2: Rise to Stardom at Manchester United

* Transfer to Manchester United in 2003 for a then-record transfer fee
* Emergence as one of the world's best young players
* Winning multiple Premier League titles, FA Cups, and a Champions League trophy

Example:

In 2008, Ronaldo led Manchester United to a historic treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in the same season. He also won the Ballon d'Or, an award given to the world's best player, for the first time that year.

Chapter 3: Real Madrid Dominance

* Transfer to Real Madrid in 2009 for another record-breaking fee
* Became the club's all-time leading scorer
* Won multiple La Liga titles, Copa del Rey trophies, and four Champions Leagues

Example:

In the 2016-17 season, Ronaldo scored 42 goals in La Liga, becoming the league's top scorer for the fourth time. He also led Real Madrid to their second consecutive Champions League title, scoring in the final against Juventus.

Chapter 4: Juventus Adventure

* Transfer to Juventus in 2018
* Continued scoring goals and winning titles in a new league
* Inspired Juventus to back-to-back Serie A titles

Example:

In his first season at Juventus, Ronaldo scored 28 goals in Serie A, helping the club win the league title for the eighth consecutive time. He also led the team to victory in the Supercoppa Italiana.

Chapter 5: International Success

* Captained the Portuguese national team to victory at Euro 2016
* Won the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019
* Became Portugal's all-time leading scorer

Example:

In the final of Euro 2016, Ronaldo led Portugal to a 1-0 victory over France by scoring the winning penalty in extra time. It was Portugal's first major international trophy.

Chapter 6: Legacy and Impact

* Widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time
* Has broken numerous scoring records and won countless individual and team awards
* Inspired a generation of footballers and became a global icon

Example:

Ronaldo was named the UEFA Men's Player of the Year four times (2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018), and the FIFA Player of the Year five times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017). He has also won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award twice (2008 and 2017).