5 of the Best Moments of Ronaldo's Career

Ronaldo is Number 7 in 90min's Top 50 Greatest Footballer of All Time Series

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

On this day in 2002, Ronaldo made his Real Madrid debut. 🔥

The start of a vintage Il Fenomeno era 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/rZ2cmzY894
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 6, 2019

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.

90min's '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