9 Years in 9 Moments: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Highs at Real Madrid

Here’s a look back at the success Ronaldo enjoyed at Real Madrid - and why he leaves as a true “White Legend”

Cristiano Ronaldo scored with a bicycle kick against Juventus the last time the teams met.

(Photo: Reuters)

Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced he is leaving Real Madrid for Italian champions Juventus, on a four-year contract.

The move ends a nine-year stint the Portuguese star had with Los Blancos where his trophy list includes two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey titles and four Champions League titles, and leaves as the club’s all-time highest goal-scorer.

Here’s a look at Ronaldo’s nine years at Real Madrid, in nine of his greatest moments with the club:

1. Record Breaking Transfer

In an unfamiliar number 9 shirt, Cristiano Ronaldo is unveiled to the Santiago Bernabeu in front of the then-nine European Championships(Photo courtesy: @TheSporTalk on Twitter)

Ronaldo had already graduated into a star during his Manchester United days, winning the Champions League with the Red Devils in 2007-08 and receiving his first Ballon D’Or.

After losing the Champions League final in 2008-09 with the English club, Ronaldo signed with Real Madrid on 1 July 2009 for a then-world record 80 million pounds. His arrival was marked by much fanfare and he continued on the path of Madrid’s legacy of Galacticos - larger than life superstars.

Although unveiled with the number 9 shirt, he would reclaim the familiar number 7 shirt after club legend Raul’s retirement in 2010.

2. Decisive Goal to Win Copa Del Rey

Then 26, Ronaldo hangs in the air and scores a header - an all too familiar image for supporters of Real Madrid.(Photo courtesy: Real Madrid)

The star winger’s first silverware in Spain came in the 2010-11 season, when he fired a now-trademark header into the net against Catalan rivals Barcelona in the 103rd minute of play. The extra time score proved to be decisive in securing Real’s first Copa del Rey title in 18 years.

Madrid would feature in another El Clasico final in the 2013-14 edition of the Copa del Rey, which Los Merengues also won to secure the winger’s second crown.

3. Wins The Fabled Pichichi

Although the La Liga race was fierce between eternal rivals Barcelona and Madrid, and Los Blancos fell short in his first two seasons, Ronaldo was lighting up the scoring sheets from the word go. After scoring 26 league goals in his first campaign, he set a league record in 2010-11 with 41 goals in 34 games. This won him his first Pichichi trophy, given to the top scorer in La Liga.

The Portuguese forward would go on to win the award two more times, in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

4. La Liga Triumph!

The Real Madrid team celebrates after winning the La Liga title in the 2011-2012 season, for the first time since 2008(Photo: Reuters)

The very next season proved historic for Ronaldo and the club, when he scored at a torrid pace to lead Real Madrid to La Liga title. It was a year of personal achievement for the champion as he became the first to score against every other team in the league in a season, and was crowned the La Liga Player of the Season over personal rival Lionel Messi.

The title was secured with a record-breaking 100 points by the club and Ronaldo outdid his personal best by scoring 46 goals in 38 games. They would go onto record another La Liga win in 2016-17.

5. La Decima

Ronaldo (centre) celebrates with his teammates after Real Madrid win their 10th Champions League crown in 2014(Photo: AP)

The Tenth, as it was fondly called by all Madridistas, was the one trophy that the club had been hungry for since 2002. It was the tenth UEFA Champions League title that had eluded the club, and the title of “Best in Europe” that they had dominated in the 20th century.

Finally, it was Ronaldo who led them to the historic title in 2013-14 with a spectacular Champions League season, where he scored a record-smashing 16 goals

6. Trio of Club World Cups

Pepe, Cristiano Ronaldo and Fabio pose with the Club World Cup trophy after winning the competition in 2014(Photo: AP)

With Ronaldo leading from the front, Real Madrid extended their domestic and European domination to the premier international club event organised by FIFA. The Club World Cup pits the winners of the continental championships (in Madrid’s case, the UEFA Champions League) against each other.

Proving triumphant in the 2014, 2016 and 2017 editions, Real Madrid are tied for most wins in the history of the competition with FC Barcelona. The striker himself holds the record for scoring at the event, with 7 goals, including a hat-trick in the 2016 final to win the tournament for Madrid.

7. Ballon D’Or Domination with Real

Ronaldo poses with his fifth Ballon D’Or after winning the 2017 trophy in Paris, France(Photo: AP)

After an astounding calendar year in 2013 where he scored 66 goals in 56 games, Ronaldo was honoured with the prestigious Ballon D’Or for the second time in his career, and his first time with Madrid, edging out Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery.

This became par for the course in recent times, with spectacular years in 2014, 2016 and 2017 ending with the coveted Golden Ball for the Portuguese.

The 2017 recognition tied him with Lionel Messi with five Ballon D’Or in his career after the 2016-17 season with a La Liga and Champions League double.

8. Records in Champions’ Land

Although Cristiano Ronaldo bids the Bernabeu farewell, he leaves with many memorable moments - personally and for the club(Photo: AP)

Cristiano Ronaldo has proven to be the most effective player in the history of the UEFA Champions League, being the only player to win 5 titles - one with Manchester and four with Madrid. He holds the record for most goals in the competition (120) and the top 3 single season performances (all with Madrid) - 17, 16 and 15 goals.

Real Madrid became the only club to win the Champions League in consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017, and even produced a three-peat by beating Liverpool in the 2018 final. Ronaldo is the only player to score in three Champions League finals - in 2014, 2016 and 2017.

9. Leaves as Top Goalscorer - and Legend

Ronaldo’s exit from the storied club will no doubt be bittersweet for the player as well as fans. Although he has voiced his unhappiness at Madrid, the star forward leaves the club in a blaze of glory, taking most scoring records with him.

He is the highest goalscorer at Real Madrid, scoring 451 goals over 9 seasons, and winning 16 trophies. He is the club’s top-scorer in La Liga (309) and the UEFA Champions League (105), as well as having the club’s highest assists in both competitions.

The front page of Spanish sports daily Marca from 1st October 2015(Photo courtesy: Marca)

Way back in 2015, Spanish paper Marca put out a headline congratulating Ronaldo breaking previous holder Raul’s record for most goals in a Madrid shirt. The lasting phrase from that photo is “Leyenda Blanca” - a White Legend.