2002 Panini Futebol Portugal Stickers Cristiano Ronaldo ROOKIE #306 BGS 10

Cristiano Ronaldo quickly earned a reputation as one of Europe’s most creative attackers when he began his career with Sporting CP in Portugal as a 17-year-old. He only scored three goals in the Premeira Liga, but his overall on-the-pitch skills caught the attention of Manchester United after his first 25 matches—though not before Panini captured the future icon with Sporting CP in the 2002-03 Panini Futbol Portugal Stickers set. Ronaldo’s Panini Futbol Portugal Sticker rookie card has become one of the most coveted soccer cards in the industry. While at the time an unheralded teenager, Ronaldo quickly emerged as the sticker to have from the set. As one of the few productions to showcase him in his Sporting CP kit, collectors could affix this sticker to an accompanying album that arranged stickers from the large set. And this example commands extra attention with its Pop 13 BGS 10 designation. Only the slightest wear to the corners kept this sticker from becoming the first BGS 10 Black Label example on the population report. Manchester United plucked Ronaldo away from Portugal after he showcased his skills in a friendly match, and one of the finest careers in history began in earnest on one of soccer’s biggest stages—the Premier League. Even though Ronaldo left Portugal for domestic play, he maintained his place as the leading player on the country’s national team and earned the Portuguese Football Federation’s Player of the Century honor in 2015. Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, set the record for the most goals in international play in 2021 and became the first player to score in five World Cup events in 2022. With so many accolades to his name, Ronaldo will not likely leave the mainstream soccer consciousness any time soon, leaving this rookie card with a chance to draw a resounding worldwide audience. The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 03/21/2024.