In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo toyed with the idea of signing with Manchester City, the cross-town rival of his old club. It would have been a shocking move that shifted the balance of power in the Premier League, but Ronaldo ultimately decided to return to the team he had called home from 2003-09. In his first game after re-signing, he scored twice to remind fans that all was well in Old Trafford. Before joining Manchester United the first time, Ronaldo played on Portuguese national teams, and Portugal is where his rookie card could be originally found. Ronaldo was featured in the 2002 Panini Futebol Portugal set, and a BGS 2.5 example of his first card is available in this week’s auction. Ronaldo has come a long way from where the teenager on this card was, and a soccer card collection would likewise take a step forward by adding this example.
