Imagine being so good at football that you break the transfer world record not once, but twice.
Only two players have ever done. The first? Diego Maradona. And the second? Ronaldo. Not the sociopathic Portuguese imitator. No, the original Ronaldo.
Ronaldo the teenage sensation. Ronaldo the legendary goal scorer and sadly, Ronaldo the injury prone genius.
Picking just five moments from his illustrious career was not an easy task but we’ve given it a go anyway. So… sit back, relax and prepare to revel in the warm splendour of a bonafide footballing deity.
Ridiculous Season at Camp Nou
Ronaldo’s one season stay at Barcelona has been canonised in footballing folklore.
This was El Fenomeno at his pinnacle. Lean, powerful and technically effortless, the Brazilian glided past La Liga defenders all season long, finishing with a scarcely believable 47 goals in all competitions.
Although he would go on to achieve many other feats in his career, it would never be quite as good as that spell in the Catalonian sun. Those wanting to understand what all the fuss is about with Ronaldo should use this as a vantage point into his brilliance.
World Cup Redemption
The day of the 1998 World Cup final, Ronaldo suffered some sort of medical episode – the precise details of which retain the interest of conspiracy theorists everywhere.
Whatever happened, it affected Brazil’s star man’s performance as France breezed to a 3-0 victory.
Four years later, Ronaldo would return to the greatest stage of them all with avengeance. He scored eight goals – including two in the final against Germany – to help clinch Selecao their fifth World Cup.
And, he did it all while sporting the worst haircut in footballing history. Huge respect to Ronaldo’s barber for getting himself paid for that monstrosity.
Real Madrid Debut
The first game for your new club can be nerve wracking. Just ask Robbie Keane, he’s experienced it countless times.
However, Ronaldo’s Real Madrid debut did not seem to faze him whatsoever. Introduced as a substitute in the 64th minute against Alaves, the Brazilian received a thunderous reaction from those in attendance at Santiago Bernabeu.
Just one minute later, he had peeled off his man, chested a cross down and lashed the ball into the back of the net. Not a bad start that.
There was more to come as well. Making a run down the left hand side, Ronaldo was set free by Steve McManaman and the Brazilian made no mistake, sliding the ball into the bottom corner. A debut brace and the first of many goals for Los Blancos.
Old Trafford Hat Trick
You have to be bloody good at football to score a hat trick at Old Trafford. You have to even better to do it as a visiting player and you have to be a bonafide footballing freak to do it in the Champions League quarter final.
Step forward said freak, Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima.
Goal number one: the ball was bobbling but no bother – he still managed to lash it in from outside the box.
Goal number two: a poacher’s tap in from eight yards out.
Goal number three: a 25-yard screamer.
Ronaldo received a standing ovation when he was substituted and rightly so. On that night the world was his, we were just living in it.
Perfect Send-Off At Corinthians
The final act of Ronaldo’s complex and meandering career was to help Corinthians – previously home to Brazilian legends Socrates and Rivellino – win the Sao Paulo state championships in 2009.
He scored 10 goals in 14 games en route to the title, proving that the magic he possessed earlier in his footballing life was still bubbling away.
Eventually, injuries got the better of him and he announced his retirement from the game in 2011.
Top 50 Greatest Footballers of All Time’ can be found here.
Number 50: Luka Modric
Number 49: John Charles
Number 48: Hugo Sanchez
Number 47: Jairzinho
Number 46: Omar Sivori
Number 45: Paolo Rossi
Number 44: Paul Breitner
Number 43: George Weah
Number 42: Kaka
Number 41: Lev Yashin
Number 40: Gunnar Nordahl
Number 39: Kevin Keegan
Number 38: Hristo Stoichkov
Number 37: Gianluigi Buffon
Number 36: Johan Neeskens
Number 35: Xavi Hernandez
Number 34: Luis Suarez
Number 33: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Number 32: Andres Iniesta
Number 31: Rivelino
Number 30: Bobby Moore
Number 29: Socrates
Number 28: Sandor Kocsis
Number 27: Lothar Matthaus
Number 26: Ronaldinho
Number 25: Ruud Gullit
Number 24: Bobby Charlton
Number 23: Giuseppe Meazza
Number 22: Raymond Kopa
Number 21: Romario
Number 20: Eusebio
Number 19: Marco van Basten
Number 18: George Best
Number 17: Zico
Number 16: Franco Baresi
Number 15: Cristiano Ronaldo
Number 14: Ferenc Puskas
Number 13: Paolo Maldini
Number 12: Gerd Müller
Number 11: Mané Garrincha
Number 10: Alfredo Di Stefano
Number 9: Roberto Baggio
Number 8: Michel Platini