The hard part was narrowing it down to 29 to be honest. Happy birthday Cristiano.
As far as footballers’ birthdays are concerned, you’d be hard pressed to find a better day than February 5. Carlos Tevez, Neymar, Gheorge Hagi and Adnan Januzaj are all a year older today but all of them have to play second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo, who was born in Madeira on this day 29 years ago.
With over 400 goals in his career to date and undisputed status as the best player in the world alongside Lionel Messi, Ronaldo has any amount of career highlights that we could have picked out on his special day, but we’ve trotted through the archives to pick one for every year he’s been alive to date.
Happy Birthday Cristiano.
1. His explosive Manchester United debut
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IyXxoyyFr8
2. Crucial solo goal v Fulham, 2007
3. Unbelievably brave header v Roma, Champions League quarter-final, 2007
4. Cheeky back-heel v Aston Villa, 2008
5. Free-kick v Portsmouth 2008
6. Header v Chelsea, Champions League Final, 2008
7. 40-yard rocket v Porto, Champions League quarter-final, 2009
8. Free-kick v Arsenal, Champions League semi-final 2009
9. Brilliant breakaway goal in the same game
10. The famous leg point goal
11. Zlatan-like backheel v Malaga
12. Brilliant back-heel goal v Rayo Vallecano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPDyYSlVhy4
13. Brilliant goal and ‘calm down’ celebration v Barcelona, 2012
14. Ridiculous demonstration of his pace v Villarreal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxjHiZ4QdCg
15. Amazing leap and headed goal v Manchester United
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxHSWy_-QwU
16. Amazing leap (but no goal) v Osasuna
17. He’s a charitable fella
18. He’s human (sometimes)
Fallo increíble de Cristiano a puerta vacía [HD] by Emenderk
19. He has a museum dedicated to himself
20. He get can get ridiculously excited about humiliating a team-mate in training
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXezG2gPCbg
21. He’s good to his work colleagues
22. Quality effort v Galatasaray
23. Trademark screamer v Real Betis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt35vMXPDGY
24. He has a lovely missus
25. His physique isn’t half bad either
26. Ridiculous free-kick v Denmark, 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORz2cuuFIMM
27. What would have been one of his best ever goals (if it wasn’t for Nani)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1spIEvSUf0
28. This brilliant nutmeg on Northern Ireland’s Steven Davis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y94-g8jf1LI
29. Hat-trick v Sweden that sealed Portugal’s World Cup qualification (complete with amazing commentary)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wdw56k1pqE
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