Lisbon witnessed the dreams of a child named Cristiano Ronaldo from the age of 11, and twenty years later he returns to what was his home as a legend in the game. The young Sporting player has blossomed into an icon of world football, with titles galore and having secured three Ballon d'Or awards. Growing up in Funchal, Ronaldo probably couldn't have imagined just what an impact he would make on the game but he was, in reality, always destined for greatness. A first-team debut with Sporting at just 17 years old, a move to Manchester United shortly afterwards and then the continuation of an already successful career at Real Madrid. Sporting still feel tremendous pride at having set Ronaldo on that path to glory and it will feel like a home game for Real's No.7 in front of a crowd who clearly still adore him. It will be a special day for the player himself because everything started there. He left Lisbon at 18 years of age and returns at 31, and directly after his exhibition in the Estadio Vicente Calderon. Three goals that put him back among the best goal scorers in LaLiga and a performance of such quality that his former team will be fearful of the damage he can cause. After an early season interrupted by injury, Cristiano Ronaldo is back to his best.16-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo caught the subway to training everyday as a Sporting CP academy hopeful earning 1000 euros per month and sleeping in a hostel filled with his young teammates.
Residencial Dom Jose, a hostel near Lisbon's famous Marques de Pombal, represented modest living and still exists today, a 15 minute underground journey from a lodging which is also strongly familiar with the now-Real Madrid star. The Pestana CR7, moments from the Portuguese capital's seafront, is where the winger resides on his short trip to face his old team in a Champions League encounter that serves as another reminder of how far the winger has come. Hosting Los Blancos while offering rooms at around 110 euros per night, it's clear that the Pestana is more than just a business hobby for Ronaldo; it's his pension. Another Cristiano-branded hotel has already been opened on his home island of Madeira and more are planned. Those who watched the forward rise from a determined teenager to global icon with three Champions Leagues, three Ballon d'Ors, and a European Championship to his name, will be first in line to watch the player strut his stuff at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday night before he jets back to Madrid and continues his quest to conquer the world.
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