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June 26, 2025
Ronaldo is a player you can't fault. Not only has he been in the game for years and years but he stays on top of his game for as long as possible. Whether you're a diehard fan or just someone who casually follows the sport, chances are you've got an opinion about him...
At 40 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo still smashing records both at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, but also while representing the Portuguese National Team. Nevertheless, his game now looks a lot different to the teenager who first came onto the scene with Sporting CP, back in the 2002-03 season. It's time to take a trip down memory lane and compare the man Ronaldo is today with the boy who started it all...
Cristiano Ronaldo - A class apart
Right now, Ronaldo is playing his trade at Al-Nassr, a club he joined in 2023, after doing a two-year stint with the old favourite, Manchester United, again, for old times' sake. A lot of people thought it was a wind-down move, you know, a step towards retirement. But Ronaldo wouldn't know how to do something quietly even if he tried. He’s still breaking scoring records, still dominating headlines and still playing like he's got something to prove. Plus, with this contract he signed with them, he's also the number one highest payer on the books.
Watching him now, you see the years of experience. He’s calmer and more calculated. If you’re watching a match, you know that when the ball comes to him in the box, something’s about to happen.
Before Saudi Arabia, there was Juventus. From 2018 to 2021, Ronaldo played in Italy’s Serie A, a league known for its tactical rigour and defensive discipline. But even that didn’t slow him down much.
He scored over 100 goals in just three seasons and won two league titles and kept Juve competitive in Europe. Also, his game evolved as he was all about efficiency and finishing, often popping up in the right place at the right time. This is what experience teaches you.
You could sense his style changing here. Less flair and more focus. And if you were watching him at this point, you could see he’d become a player who relied more on positioning and sheer instinct than just pace or flair. This is something that a lot of fans noticed, which is why many started to use the skills they learned about wagering when they explore real money slots on this regulated UK site to bet on Ronaldo.
Now it's time to go back and look at what many consider the golden era of Ronaldo’s career, Real Madrid, from 2009 to 2018. This was him at his absolute peak. If you ever played FIFA or watched Champions League nights during this time, you know how unstoppable he was.
What kind of player was he at Real Madrid?
Watching him at Madrid, you weren’t just witnessing a footballer, you were watching a force of nature.
Before Madrid, Ronaldo first made a real name for himself at Manchester United. When he joined in 2003, he was a young winger from Portugal. But by the time he left in 2009, he was a Ballon d’Or winner and one of the best in the world.
This was the stage where you could see him go from raw talent to polished superstar. If you were watching football back then, you’ll remember the excitement every time he got on the ball. The tricks, the flair, the goals, it was honestly box office entertainment.
And of course, it all started at Sporting CP in Portugal. Ronaldo came through their academy and made his debut at just 16. He didn’t stay long as United came calling after he tore them apart in a pre-season friendly.
If you've ever seen clips of those early games, you’d recognise that same hunger, that same drive that’s stayed with him throughout his career. It’s like you’re watching the early drafts of a blockbuster movie.
As you can see from the above, Ronaldo is clearly one of the best players in the world. Not only has he managed to stay on the field for as long as he has but he has also tried to be a good sport at each of the teams and showcase excellent training, tenacity and performance.
To continue to stay at this high level, now even in his 40s, is something that fans have never seen before. This is what makes him one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in the industry.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on September 21, against Jeddah Club, for the King's Cup. You can watch Jeddah vs Al Nassr, Salzburg vs Real Madrid, Al Hilal vs Pachuca, Juventus vs Man City, Benfica vs Chelsea and Flamengo vs Bayen Munich, all matches provided from our sports live game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Jeddah Club vs Al Nassr kick-off time (21-09-2025):
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 / olympics.com / telegraph.co.uk
