Cristiano Ronaldo, a forward for Manchester United, congratulated his childhood team Sporting Lisbon on the 20th anniversary of their academy in a message sent to them.
Ronaldo, after whom the Academy is named, has expressed a desire to visit the Portuguese club soon.
In honor of the former Juventus and Real Madrid star’s unparalleled legacy, Sporting Lisbon renamed their Academy after him in September 2020.
Sporting Lisbon received a touching video message from Ronaldo on Tuesday, which the team shared on Twitter.
As translated by A Z, Ronaldo said as follows: “Congratulations on the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Academy, for all the goals you have achieved, and for all the success you have achieved. It is a great honour to have the Academy bear my name, and I hope to see you soon.”
At the tender age of 12, Ronaldo, now 37, enrolled in Sporting Lisbon’s Academy.
Five years later, in October 2002 against Braga, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner made his club debut.
The captain of Portugal left Sporting in August 2003 and paid £12.24 million to join Manchester United.
