How an 18-year-old Portuguese sensation took his first steps towards football immortality at Old Trafford

August 16, 2003, began as a typical beautiful afternoon at Old Trafford, but it quickly became a historic day in football history. Manchester United fans had assembled for their team's Premier League opening against Bolton Wanderers, anticipating Sir Alex Ferguson to lead them to a successful start. They had no idea they would see the beginning of a story.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, an 18-year-old with blonde streaks in his hair and an air of calm assurance, had just arrived in Manchester. During their preseason tour, United played Sporting Lisbon in a friendly and were pleased by the young winger who caused havoc with their defence. In fact, on the journey back, Sir Alex Ferguson's players begged their boss to sign him.

🇵🇹 Yıl 2003. Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United'da. pic.twitter.com/tRW5Na2aKJ

— Play Spor (@playspor) August 12, 2024

The agreement was swiftly finalised. Ronaldo traded in Manchester United's famous red for £12.25 million, leaving Sporting Lisbon's green and white. Four days after signing his contract, Ronaldo was selected for the team to play Bolton.

🇵🇹 Yıl 2003. Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United'da. pic.twitter.com/tRW5Na2aKJ

— Play Spor (@playspor) August 12, 2024

A bold first step

When the game began, there was no indication that history was about to be written. United presented a respectable, although unspectacular, team, still getting used to losing players like David Beckham and Juan Sebastian Veron. Although there was no shortage of star power, thanks to Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, and Ruud van Nistelrooy, something was lacking. Despite a Ryan Giggs free-kick giving United the lead, the match lacked the intensity to which their fans had been used.

Then, with the score still close and the tension building, Ferguson made a move in the 61st minute that would change the history of football. Nicky Butt stepped off, and the young man from Madeira entered. Ronaldo entered the pitch with a composure that belied his age, donning the iconic No. 7 shirt.

The moment of magic

Ronaldo appeared hesitant initially, his silver boots gleaming under the floodlights as he regained his footing. But his innate flare and boldness quickly came to the fore. Nicky Hunt's Bolton defence was immediately faced with a flurry of step-overs, feints, and quick bursts of pace.

Even though van Nistelrooy surprisingly missed the penalty that Ronaldo won, his influence was already apparent. He assisted Giggs with his second goal and supplied a well-placed cross that may have resulted in another. After United easily won 4-0 at the end of regulation time, everyone talked about the teenage phenom who had utterly changed the course of the game in just 29 minutes.

The journey begins

Ronaldo was called up to the Portugal national squad shortly after making his debut, kicking off an extraordinary international career. It took him a bit longer to score his first goal for United, coming over two months later in a 3-0 victory over Portsmouth. However, it was evident from the first game against Bolton that United had found a hidden treasure.

3. Manchester United
On Nov. 1, 2003, Manchester United were winning 1-0 at home to Portsmouth when they were awarded a free kick in the 80th minute. Up stepped an 18-year-old named Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored his first goal for the Old Trafford club.
pic.twitter.com/vJ3FehiVHH

— 🕊️ (@fallacy21) July 25, 2024

Ronaldo would win every possible trophy during his first phrase of six years at Old Trafford, including three Premier League crowns, two League Cups, the FA Cup, the Club World Cup, and the Champions League, the ultimate title in European football. With 42 goals in the 2007–08 campaign, including one in the Champions League final, he won the first of his five Ballon d'Or honours and helped United achieve a historic double.