Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of Portugal’s greatest exports in football. Over the year, he has changed from a poor aspiring player to being a football legend. His time with Manchester United from 2003 to 2009 saw him becoming one of its most successful players, with the team bagging three Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League. His transfer to Real Madrid in 2009 was the most expensive transfer of a football player at the time, with an estimated $110 million spent to make it happen.

Certainly, that large investment was worth it as his time with Real Madrid saw the team winning 15 trophies. In addition, he became the team’s top goalscorer of all time. Aside from football clubs, Ronaldo has also been playing for his country’s national team since 2003, becoming its most prolific player ever. Thanks to these, he has emerged as one of football’s juggernauts, being one of the most marketable and highest-paid athletes in the world.