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Cristiano Ronaldo news: Sporting Lisbon rename academy after Juventus superstar

Ronaldo, 35, is widely considered as one of the greatest footballers of all time and graduated from Sporting's youth system before earning a move to the Premier League with Manchester United.

Having joined the LigaNos giants from Madeira-based outfit Nacional as a 12-year-old, Ronaldo thrived in the capital city before making his debut five years later.

"It's with great honour that Sporting Clube de Portugal announces that the club's academy will be renamed Academia Cristiano Ronaldo," read the official statement from Sporting.

"A good son returns home and the home that made Cristiano Ronaldo now welcomes his name in honour of the one who became the best Portuguese player of all time, the best player in the world, a five-time Ballon d'Or-winner and captain of [Portugal's 2016] European Championship and the [2019 UEFA] Nations League.

"The academy will thus immortalise the name of the greatest symbol ever formed [here] and that will be an inspiration to follow for all the young talents."

Scroll through the gallery for images of the world
Scroll through the gallery for images of the world's 10 highest-paid footballers
10. David de Gea (Manchester United) – $27m / R450
10. David de Gea (Manchester United) – $27m / R450m
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) – $117m / R1.9bn
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) – $117m / R1.9bn
4. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) – $42m / R7
4. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) – $42m / R700m
6. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) – $34m / R567m
6. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) – $34m / R567m
8. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) – $29m / R483m
8. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) – $29m / R483m
9. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) – $28m / R46
9. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) – $28m / R466m
3. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) – $96m / R16bn
3. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) – $96m / R16bn
1. Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) – $126m / R2.1bn
1. Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) – $126m / R2.1bn
5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – $37m / R617m
5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – $37m / R617m
7. Antoine Griezmann (FC Barcelona) – $33m / R550m
7. Antoine Griezmann (FC Barcelona) – $33m / R550m

Sir Alex Ferguson made Ronaldo the most expensive teenager of all-time in 2004 when he forked out £12.24-million to lure him from Portugal after he impressed against the Red Devils in a pre-season clash.

He went on to win three league titles, the UEFA Champions League and the 2008 Ballon d'Or before Real Madrid signed him in a world-record £80-million deal.

In eight years with Los Blancos he achieved legendary status by becoming the club's record goal-scorer and winning four Champions Leagues's and four more Ballon d'Or titles before departing for Juventus in 2018.

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