World football is always full of decisions that can completely change the fate of clubs and players. One of those decisions was Barcelona rejected Ronaldo, even though the opportunity to own him was not expensive at that time. To better understand the reasons and consequences of this decision, Bestsoccertips needs to look back at the developments surrounding this story and how it led to an unprecedented race between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, two of the greatest players in football history.
Why Barcelona rejected Ronaldo
Meeting Ronaldo at Sporting Lisbon
Did Barcelona reject Ronaldo? According to Joan Laporta, the candidate for Barcelona’s presidency, the Catalan club was once offered to sign Cristiano Ronaldo when he was still playing for Sporting Lisbon. Ronaldo was even sold to Manchester United for 19 million Euros, but for Barcelona, the price was only 17 million Euros. This was a very reasonable price for a young talent emerging in Portugal. However, Barcelona rejected this opportunity.
The choice of Ronaldinho
At that time, Barcelona decided to invest in another star, Ronaldinho, who was recruited by them shortly after. Laporta shared that this decision was completely reasonable, because the team had placed their trust in Ronaldinho, who had the ability to change the face of the whole team. Ronaldinho helped Barcelona return to the top of European football and was an important teacher in Lionel Messi’s career.
While it may have been a difficult decision to turn down Ronaldo, for Barcelona, signing Ronaldinho was a strategically calculated move. The Brazilian not only brought victories but also changed the football culture of the club.
The record race between Ronaldo and Messi
Messi golden opportunity at Barcelona
Barcelona’s move not only shaped their careers, but also had a huge impact on Lionel Messi’s future. Ronaldinho became Messi’s mentor and key teammate at Barcelona. Ronaldinho’s guidance helped Messi develop into the greatest player in the club’s history. Messi himself followed in his mentor’s footsteps, leading Barcelona to new heights with resounding victories, and became Cristiano Ronaldo’s biggest rival in a great race that lasted for more than a decade.
Ronaldo: From Man United to Real Madrid
On the other hand, not joining Barcelona did not prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from becoming a legend of the game. After joining Manchester United, Ronaldo quickly developed into one of the best players in the world, winning many titles and making a name for himself during his time playing in England. But the peak of Ronaldo’s career officially began when he moved to Real Madrid. At Madrid, Ronaldo broke a host of records and became one of the greatest players in football history, not only at his club but also around the world.
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Cristiano Ronaldo and his journey to the top
Awesome scoring record
Cristiano Ronaldo has set a series of impressive scoring records, from his time at Manchester United to Real Madrid and Juventus. He became the player with the most goals in the history of the Champions League and scored a total of more than 800 goals in his career. Despite being 36 years old, Ronaldo still maintains a high level of performance, breaking new records in each season.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s record after record
Records in major tournaments
Ronaldo has not only been successful at his club but also made history in international tournaments. He became the player with the most goals in the history of Euro 2020 and the player with the most goals in World Cup qualifiers. These achievements help him affirm his great position in world football.
Influence off the field
Ronaldo is also a global icon in the fields of media and business. He has a huge following on social platforms and is a partner of many famous brands. In addition to football, Ronaldo has also built a business empire, from sports products to real estate, making him one of the highest earners in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo is not only a great player but also a living legend, and his journey to conquer records is not over yet.
Wrapping Things Up
The decision to Barcelona rejected Ronaldo is perhaps one of the biggest turning points in football history. If Barcelona had Ronaldo, perhaps the club would have had another shining star, but at the same time, it cannot be denied that the decision to invest in Ronaldinho also brought great success to the Catalan team. However, this rejection opened up a different path for Ronaldo, making him one of the greatest players in the world, and at the same time creating a never-ending record race with Lionel Messi. While Barcelona may not regret their decision, it cannot be denied that world football has witnessed one of the most dramatic and emotional rivalries between two of the greatest players of all time.
See also: What if Messi played for Real Madrid? Notable changes
