Cristiano Ronaldo received the MARCA Legend award on Monday evening for his outstanding achievements in the world of football.
The Juventus and Portugal forward is regarded as the greatest player of all time by some, and there are plenty of factors that make him and his career completely unique.
Having grown up on the island of Madeira, Ronaldo joined Sporting CP in 2001. His heart condition nearly forced him to retire aged 15 but, after the death of his father, nothing would spot him from achieving his dreams.
Ronaldo's lifestyle has given him a longevity like no one else in his footballing career. He doesn't drink alcohol; he doesn't smoke; he recovers from matches in temperatures of 200 degrees below zero; and he has a body fat percentage of between seven and eight percent. A study in 2018 showed that the 34-year-old had the biological age of a 23-year-old and that he would be able to continue playing into his forties.
All these sacrifices have seen him score 602 goals and provide 210 assists in 803 matches in his career, since making his senior debut for Sporting aged 17.
Ronaldo is the top scorer in Champions League history (127), the top scorer in Real Madrid's history (451), the top scorer in Club World Cup history (seven), the joint-top scorer in European Championship history with Michel Platini (nine), the top scorer in European qualifying (50), and the second-top scorer in international football history (88) behind Ali Daei (109).
He's also won five Ballon d'Ors, the most in history alongside Lionel Messi, four European Golden Boots, seven Champions League top-scorer awards, three LaLiga top-scorer awards, one Premier League Golden Boot and the Puskas Award in 2009.
Ronaldo broke on to the world scene with Manchester United and played alongside the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Roy Keane under Sir Alex Ferguson, who toughened him up after arriving from Portugal. While at Old Trafford, he won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups, a Community Shield, a Champions League title and a Club World Cup.
He then moved on to Real Madrid and there, the forward won two LaLiga Santander titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, two Supercopas de Espana, four Champions League titles, two UEFA Super Cups and three Club World Cups.
Ronaldo also won Serie A during his first season at Juventus to become the first player in history to win first division league titles in England, Spain and Italy. He also scored the winner against AC Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana.
With his country, Ronaldo led Portugal to their first ever major trophy with victory in the European Championship in 2016 before captaining the team to UEFA Nations League glory in 2019.
Rashnic/GOAT/CR7
368
Best player in the world 🐐
Bandiken
258
The debate ends
Aashish_Prasai
232
Legend for sure. one of the most inspirational personality on the planet.
Sedbcklrs
114
There is no doubt Ronaldo is the greatest if all. He has been a true leader for both club and country. Thats the o e big edge he has over Messi. Thanks also to his agent. Mende is not like other agent that insites their players against their club for selfish interest. Some of these players like Neyman, Phoba and others, who think as if they are World best has to learn from the foot steps of Ronaldo and his agent. Mende has been giving wonderful advices to Ronaldo for years now. While other Agents are Just after the money and no true love for their players neither the sport. Thats why their players will never be great in history like Ronaldo and Messi.
zogemsitlhou
79
Future historians will be kind to messi because: 1. He has won it all with barca 2. He won 5 ballon d'ors with barca 3. He's loyal and a one club man Future historians will be kinder to cristiano ronaldo because: 1. He has won it in all major leagues he's played for. 2. Has won the ballon d'or with two different teams for a collective 5 times(on par with messi) 3. He has won a major international trophy(euro) and a uefa nations league(so far). 4. He's proven himself in 3 different elite leagues.
daCR7
12
record says n statics shows as well lot of footballer legend express thier as well 442 magazine survey shows last 25 yrs, THE BEST PLAER IN THE WORLD IS GOAT MESSI🤘
Yeah! According to you retards! And if you want to say that Messi has more goal to game ratio, Remember, Ronaldo was a midfielder for the first 6 years of his professional career and did not had greats like Henry, Rony, Eto'o and Suarez to get him more assists! He had Lord Benz! And both of ours opinions doesn't change the fact that they are the two and only GOATs.
Charmingboy
11
Best player in the world 🐐
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record says n statics shows as well lot of footballer legend express thier as well 442 magazine survey shows last 25 yrs, THE BEST PLAER IN THE WORLD IS GOAT MESSI🤘