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May 27, 2025
Manchester United has witnessed numerous exhilarating highlights during Ronaldo’s journey with the club. His remarkable debut and the astonishing goals scored have greatly contributed to the legacy of both the club and football.
Ronaldo scored 145 goals over 2 stints for Man Utd, accounting for 346 appearances in total, and this record is more than enough to guarantee his status as a club legend. There was no doubt he marked their spell from 2003-2009 with winning and astonishing feats, but his return in 2021 was an entirely new gripping chapter of nostalgia mixed with immense brilliance. With so much accomplished by the Portuguese superstar during his United years, a single article can't do any justice. From his explosive debut, goals that created pandemonium within Old Trafford, and so much more, stand out for the club fans to remember.
Cristiano Ronaldo - The United story
When he ran onto the pitch in Bolton Wanderers’ match on August 16, wearing the red shirt of Manchester United for the first time, Ronaldo was merely 18 years old. He was subbed on during the 61st minute. Despite being the youngest on the pitch, his energy, staggering step-overs, jaw-dropping runs, and intense raw energy, coupled with everything that happened in Old Trafford, was outstanding.
He may not have scored, but Ronaldo's influence was felt immediately. One of the best debuts, according to Sir Alex Ferguson and the fans showered his name with praise and applause, according to the teenager, as if he single-handedly won them the trophy. It was the commencement of a new career and an unprecedented way that suggests a new hopeful routine for spectators.
Out of all the goals scored by Ronaldo for Manchester United, the free-kick goal scored in January of 2008 is distinctly iconic. This goal is truly iconic because of the way it was replayed multiple times.
With no spin being put on it, the ball swerving over the wall and dipping into the top corner seems to be impossible. Not just the goal conceded by the opponent, but utterly ridiculous considering that Ronaldo scored 42 goals throughout the entire season.
That campaign concluded with United winning the Premier League and Champions League titles. For fans eager to soak in these moments, coming to Old Trafford is still a necessity.
Even for highly sought-after matches, there is greater international fan accessibility through new booking systems that sell Man U tickets months in advance, often bundled with other amenities such as stadium tours. This ensures that fans don't miss opportunities during certain moments that could turn out to be iconic, perhaps even the next famous goal.
While Ronaldo has always been known for his consistency in front of goal, his hat-tricks carry a special weight, especially at Old Trafford. One of the best was in March 2022 when United played host to Tottenham Hotspur.
During a tumultuous phase, United's need for inspiration was fulfilled as he single-handedly took them to a 3-2 victory with all three goals to his name. With this win, he also completed a remarkable feat, becoming the first player in the world to score 807 goals, as acknowledged by FIFA in competitive senior international football.
Just weeks later, Ronaldo netted another treble against Norwich City, reminding supporters and critics alike that he remained one of the most dangerous scorers in the game even in his late 30s.
He scored a hat-trick against Newcastle United in 2008 during his first spell with the club. That was a classic Ronaldo moment with blistering pace, precision goal-scoring, and non-stop running. During his time at Manchester United, he achieved three hat-tricks, all of which were important to the season and the club’s form at the time.
Aside from the personal accomplishments, the hallmark of Ronaldo’s legacy is his consistency and leadership evolution throughout the years at Manchester United. He came to the team as a flashy, scrawny winger and departed at the end of his first stint as a global icon and Ballon D’Or winner.
The 31 goals he scored in the 2007-2008 season contributed greatly to the success the team had during that year. He claimed the award of PFA Players’ Player of the Year two times and the Premier League Golden Boot once. All of these accolades were not simply marks of personal success; achieving them in that timeline, in the club’s modern history, they were at their peak.
In his second spell at the club, he was able to score 24 goals in the 2021-2022 season, 6 of which were in the Champions League group stage. During a tough time for United, his performances greatly shifted the club from a position of defeat to a glimmer of hope.
Even though his exit in 2022 marked the end of his decade-long stint of influence, the moments still persist. Be it fans revisiting his top plays, reminiscing about his magic at Old Trafford, or waiting for the next superstar who would grab the baton, Cristiano Ronaldo's legacy ensures the talk around Manchester United is alive.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Portugal is on June 4, against Germany, for the UEFA Nations League. You can watch Germany vs Portugal, Chile vs Argentina, Spain vs France, Betis vs Chelsea, Paris-Saint Germain vs Inter Milan and Equador vs Brazil, all matches provided from our live soccer game pages.
Portugal next game:
Germany vs Portugal kick-off time (04-06-2025):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+7: 03:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+4.30: 00:30
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+2: 22:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 21:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 20:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 17:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 16:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 13:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / espn.com / manutd.com
