Why Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo almost quit football before moving to Manchester United?

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Cristiano Ronaldo, a name synonymous with football greatness, could have taken a considerably different path in his life.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, widely regarded as one of the finest players in the history of the sport, once weighed on quitting football during his formative years at Sporting Lisbon’s academy.

Cristiano Ronaldo contemplated quitting football

The Al-Nassr star now stands as an icon of the game, however, his journey was filled with adversity, as revealed in the book titled 'Messi vs Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two GOATs, and the Era That Remade the World’s Game’'

Ronaldo's journey to stardom began when he joined Sporting Lisbon's academy at the tender age of 12. Those initial years proved to be a gruelling test for the young talent. He faced considerable challenges, including insult for his heavy and local accent, disputes in the schoolyard, and the suffering of missing his parents and siblings who remained in Madeira.

In the face of these difficulties, Ronaldo even contemplated turning his back on football just before he earned his spot in the reserve team for Sporting. But the similar pressure continued on the field as well.

Sporting Lisbon were unhappy with Ronaldo's attitude

Sporting Lisbon's directors were less than pleased with his attitude and threatened to send him home if he didn't make a significant adjustment in the first team. Even his academic dreams suffered due to his demanding football schedule, prompting a critical decision.

Ultimately, it was decided that he would abandon his academic pursuits altogether and devote his full attention to the sport he was so passionate about. The decision turned out to be life-changing for him which slowly started developing his football career in Portugal.

Ronaldo's key moment arrived in the summer of 2003 when, at the age of 18, he made a huge move to Old Trafford to replace the departing David Beckham. It was a decision that altered the course of his career. From that point forward, Ronaldo never had to look back.

His time at Manchester United was nothing short of legendary, as he achieved remarkable success and etched his name into the annals of football history. Subsequent spells with Real Madrid and Juventus further solidified his status as one of the greatest players to ever grace the pitch.

The 38-year-old Portuguese icon is also flourishing with his new journey in the Middle East with Al-Nassr currently. Ronaldo has scored three goals and provided two assists so far for the Saudi Pro League side.