HOW RONALDO FARED ON HIS DEBUTS FROM A KID AT SPORTING THROUGH THE EUROPEAN HEAVYWEIGHTS OF UNITED, REAL MADRID AND JUVENTUS

SPORTING LISBON V INTER MILAN, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFYING THIRD ROUND, AUGUST 14, 2002 ONE of football’s great careers got off to a quiet start as a then 17-year-old Ronaldo played the final 32 minutes of a goalless draw in Lisbon. He had been given a place on the bench after impressing in pre-season. Three more substitute appearances followed before he scored twice on his first start for the club in a Primeira Liga game against Moreirense.

MANCHESTER UNITED V BOLTON, PREMIER LEAGUE, AUGUST 16, 2003

THEN 18, Ronaldo made an immediate impact as he was thrown into the action for the final 29 minutes of a tight contest at Old Trafford that United were edging 1-0. The youngster shone the left flank and had a hand in three goals as United went on to clinch

a 4-0. “It was a marvellous debut,” said Sir Alex Ferguson.

PORTUGAL V KAZAKHSTAN, FRIENDLY, AUGUST 20, 2003

RONALDO also dazzled as he made his international bow just a few days later. The teenager came on at half-time and almost scored within a minute as he weaved through the defence on a mazy run and tested the goalkeeper with a strong shot. He was influential throughout the rest of the game and soon became an integral figure in a side that reached the final of Euro 2004. Eighteen years later, he is the record goalscorer in international football.

REAL MADRID V DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA, LALIGA, AUGUST 29, 2009

SPANISH giants Real Madrid got a quick return on their then-world record £80million summer investment in Ronaldo as he scored

from the penalty spot in a 3-2 victory at the Bernabeu. It was the first of a remarkable 451 goals in 438 competitive appearances for the club. JUVENTUS V CHIEVO, SERIE A, AUGUST 18, 2018 RONALDO did not get on the scoresheet but was involved in a lot of the drama as Juve snatched a last-gasp 3-2 win in his first match for the Turin club. The Portuguese was denied a number of times by veteran goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino before he was penalised for handball in the build-up to what the team thought was a late winner. Fortunately, for him, they had time for one more attack and Federico Bernardeschi grabbed a last-minute clincher.