From show pony to overhead kick superman: Cristiano Ronaldo's transformation in six key moments

Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United and Real Madrid 
Cristiano Ronaldo has transformed from the skinny 18-year-old that joined Manchester United in 2003 Credit: afp/Reuters/Getty images

1. Manchester United v Bolton, 2003: The show pony

As Cristiano Ronaldo stood on the sidelines waiting to replace Nicky Butt, the excitement around Old Trafford was palpable. Signed only three days earlier as a replacement for David Beckham, United's new No 7 sprinted onto the pitch to rapturous applause. 

Only 18 - and with the acne and blond highlights to ram the adolescent point home - Ronaldo's first contribution was to give the ball away after being on the end of a crunching Nicky Hunt tackle. 

Gradually he found his way into the game though and set about humiliating Hunt and his fellow defenders with a series of feints, dummies and step-overs.

There was some decent end product too - he...

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