Old Trafford Stadium, Theatre of Dreams.
Even in the players' tunnel, the deafening chants could be faintly heard.CristianoRonaldo, wearing the red Manchester United away jersey (the 03/04 season Manchester United's away jersey was white, but here it is slightly adjusted for dramatic effect, retaining the classic red), felt the softness of the grass beneath his feet and the rapid beating of his heart from excitement rather than nervousness.
Beside him stood seasoned legends like Keane, Scholes, and Giggs.Their expressions were serious, their eyes sharp, already in battle mode.In contrast, Ronaldo's expression was strangely calm, with only a slight pursing of his lips betraying the turmoil within him.
"Don't be nervous, kid, just treat it as another practice match," Gary Neville offered a rare word of comfort.After that incident in the tactics room, his opinion of the young man had greatly changed.
Cristiano Ronaldo nodded without speaking.His gaze pierced through the exit of the passage, landing on the lawn illuminated as if it were daytime.This was the sacred place he could only touch in a game in his previous life.
"They've entered the game!"
As the referee signaled, the players from both teams entered the pitch.A deafening roar instantly enveloped them; red flags waved in the stands, and chants filled the air.This is the Premier League, the most captivating league in the world!
Sir Alex Ferguson fielded a 4-4-1-1 formation today, with Ruud van Nistelrooy up front, Paul Scholes orchestrating the attack behind him, and Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo on the wings.It was clearly an attacking lineup.
From the start of the match, Blackburn took advantage of their home ground and launched a fierce attack on Manchester United's defense.Their style of play was direct and tough, with frequent physical confrontations.Whenever Ronaldo received the ball on the right wing, he would immediately face aggressive pressing and tackles from the opposing defenders.
On one occasion, he attempted to use his speed to outpace the opposing left-back, but the experienced opponent subtly pushed him aside, causing him to lose control of the ball.The referee made no call, and a chorus of laughter and boos erupted from the stands.
"Go back to Portugal, you fancy brat!" a radical home fan shouted.
If it were the original Cristiano Ronaldo, he might have been provoked and responded with even more tenacious dribbling.
But at this moment, he simply got up silently, brushed the grass off his body, and his eyes remained expressionless.He glanced at Ferguson on the sidelines, who was chewing gum and staring intently at him.
He knew the manager was observing and waiting.Waiting to see how he would handle this Premier League level of confrontation and hostility.
The opportunity arose in the 30th minute of the first half.
Scholes intercepted the ball in the middle and quickly passed it to Gary Neville on the right wing.Neville didn't hesitate and launched a long diagonal pass to Cristiano Ronaldo on the right flank.
The ball was passed a bit too far forward, requiring him to chase it.The opposing left-back started running at the same time as him, and the two were once again running side by side.
This time, Ronaldo didn't make any unnecessary stepovers.While running, he cleverly positioned himself, and just before the ball went out of bounds, he gently tapped it with the outside of his right foot, perfectly stopping it in front of him.The entire movement was fluid and seamless, showcasing amazing ball control and body coordination.
The defenders were firmly blocked behind him.
Instead of trying to cut inside, he glanced up at the penalty area.Van Nistelrooy was battling two center-backs in the middle, while Giggs was lurking at the far post.
Just when everyone thought he was going to cross, he made an unexpected move.He first feigned a cross, causing the defenders to shift their weight to the outside to block him, and then he gently cut the ball towards the side of the penalty area with the inside of his right foot!
This change in rhythm instantly gave them a half-body lead!
It was in that split second!
Without any adjustments, at an extremely tight angle, almost at zero degrees to the goal, Ronaldo swung his right leg.It wasn't a gentle cross, nor a furious shot, but rather he used the instep of his foot to curl an extremely tricky ball!
The ball, spinning intensely, bypassed the fingertips of the goalkeeper desperately trying to block the near post, and also bypassed all the defenders trying to clear the ball and the forwards trying to pounce on it, drawing a beautiful rainbow as it flew straight into the far corner of the goal!
"Whoosh!"
The sound of the ball hitting the net was exceptionally clear in the brief silence.
The ball.went in?
The entire away fans' stand, as well as the players from both sides on the field, seemed to be stunned for a moment.
Zero degrees?How dare he?How did he do that?
The next second, a huge cheer erupted from the stands where the Manchester United fans were!
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!Cristiano Ronaldo!" The commentator's voice was filled with unbelievable excitement."A genius strike!An incredible goal!Manchester United's new number seven has scored such a fantastic debut goal in his Premier League debut!"
Cristiano Ronaldo did not celebrate wildly.
He simply turned around, facing the home fans in the stands who were now stunned, their boos abruptly silenced, and slowly opened his arms.
His head was slightly raised, his eyes calm, yet carrying an air of arrogance that looked down upon the world.
It's as if it's saying: I came, I saw, I conquered.
At this moment, he was no longer the naive young man who needed to prove himself; he was the king who reigned supreme.
Keane was the first to rush over, vigorously ruffling his hair and yelling something in his ear.Van Nistelrooy, Scholes, Giggs… all his teammates rushed over and surrounded him.This time, the hugs and cheers were genuine.
On the sidelines, Sir Alex Ferguson could no longer contain his excitement.He pumped his fist and embraced his assistant coach tightly.He knew he had made the right bet!This boy was not just a genius; he was a monster destined to change football!
This entry The ball was not a sudden flash of inspiration from a clueless teenager.
It is a declaration.
A silent yet powerful declaration written by skill, wisdom, and an incomparably strong mind.
It told the entire Premier League, and the world: a brand new, more terrifying force had stepped onto the stage of history.His legendary path was now unobstructed.
The match ended with Manchester United winning 2-0 away from home.Cristiano Ronaldo's goal was voted Man of the Match.
In the mixed zone after the game, he was surrounded by reporters.
"ᴄʀɪsᴛɪᴀɴᴏ, ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢᴏᴀʟ ᴀ ғʟᴜᴋᴇ?"
ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴏɴ ғᴀɴs' ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜs ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄɪsᴍ?
"𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹?𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘁!"
Despite the presence of numerous cameras and microphones, his young face still carried a composure beyond his years.
"ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴀʟ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴛᴇᴀᴍ ᴇғғᴏʀᴛ." He first said in Portuguese, then repeated in English, which was not very fluent but clear enough."I'm happy to have helped the team win.As for the doubts.I'll let the football speak for itself."
After saying that, he squeezed through the crowd and walked toward the team bus, escorted by Mendes.
Outside the car window, the Manchester night sky was illuminated by the city lights.Cristiano Ronaldo leaned against the window, looking at his reflection.
His perfect debut was just the beginning.He knew clearly that the road ahead was long, and challenges would follow one after another: the media's excessive praise, the fiercer targeting from opponents, physical development, the pursuit of honors…
But he was fearless.
Because he is not just Cristiano Ronaldo, but a complex being with a future-oriented soul and boundless ambition.
His goal has never been merely to become a superstar.
Rather.it transcends legend and becomes unique.
The team bus started up, heading towards an unknown yet destined-to-be-glorious future.