Ronaldo joined United because teammates urged manager Alex Ferguson to recruit him during a pre-season game against Sporting Lisbon in which he shone. After a £12 million expenditure, Ronaldo made his United start, coming off the bench with United leading Bolton 1-0. Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs (twice), and Ruud Van Nistelrooy netted the goals, but the spotlight was on the new young winger.
Ronaldo was seen on camera winking as his Manchester United colleague Wayne Rooney was sent off for England during the World Cup, turning the winger into a hate figure in England. Despite wilting under pressure, he succeeded Wayne Rooney as United captain, collecting the Player of the Year award and scored the game-winning goal against Manchester City as United won the Premier League in 2007.
In a 7-1 Champions League quarter-final win over Roma at Old Trafford, Ronaldo gave one of his first real world-class performances. His far-post tap-in and snapshot opener were less mesmerizing than his total effort, which ruled the game.
Ronaldo added a new string to his bow as his arsenal grew: gravity-defying soaring jumps to head goals in. One of the early examples was his first goal for United in the Champions League final against Chelsea when he soared above the defense to head home a Paul Scholes cross. When the game went to penalties, Ronaldo failed to execute his first effort from the spot. Despite his mistake, he threw himself to the ground sobbing in relief when Nicolas Anelka’s spot-kick was also stopped as United came away with a narrow victory in Moscow.
In December, Ronaldo became the first United player to win the Ballon d’Or as the greatest player in Europe since George Finest 40 years ago. His final season was marred by an impending Real Madrid match and ankle injuries. Ronaldo, on the other hand, struck a 35-meter wonder-strike in a Champions League quarter-final in Porto that handed United the game and him the Puskas medal for best European goal of the season. According to Ronaldo, it was the greatest goal he had ever scored.
Which is your favorite memory of Ronaldo at Manchester United?
