School was never Cristiano Ronaldo’s strong suit. He struggled to sit still, clashed with teachers, and once hurled a chair in frustration after feeling mocked. “I wasn’t there to study,” he admitted later. “I was there to play football.”
A Life-Threatening Setback
At just 15, when his dream was starting to take shape, Ronaldo’s life nearly changed forever. Doctors discovered he had a dangerously fast heartbeat — the kind that could have ended his career before it began. He underwent surgery to correct it, and while others might have needed months to recover, Ronaldo was back on the training pitch within days. That moment of fragility turned into the fire that’s fueled him ever since.
A Star Is Born
By 2002, Sporting CP had promoted him to their first team. A year later, in a friendly match against Manchester United, the young winger dazzled the English side so much that United’s players begged Sir Alex Ferguson to sign him. Ferguson listened — and in 2003, a teenage Ronaldo joined Manchester United for £12.24 million, a record-breaking fee for his age.
Under Ferguson’s mentorship, Ronaldo transformed from a talented teenager into a global phenomenon. By 2008, he had won the Ballon d’Or and helped United claim both the Premier League and Champions League titles.
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