The glittering career of Cristiano Ronaldo, one of football's greatest ever players, almost took a dramatically different turn before it even began. New revelations show the Portuguese superstar came within a whisker of moving to London as a child - not for football, but for construction work.
The Sliding Doors Moment That Changed Football History
Ronaldo's father, Jose Dinis Aveiro, had seriously considered relocating his family from Madeira to the UK capital in the 1990s. He planned to work as a bricklayer, bringing young Cristiano and his siblings with him to start a new life in England.
"My father wanted to take us to London to work as a bricklayer," Ronaldo revealed in the new Netflix documentary 'Ronaldo: The President's Cut'. "If that had happened, my life, and the history of football, would have been completely different."
From Construction Sites to Champions League Glory
Instead of learning the building trade on London construction sites, Ronaldo developed his skills on the pitches of Sporting Lisbon before exploding onto the global stage. His career trajectory reads like a football fairytale:
- Manchester United: 2003-2009 - 3 Premier League titles, 1 Champions League
- Real Madrid: 2009-2018 - 4 Champions League trophies, 2 La Liga titles
- Juventus: 2018-present - 2 Serie A championships
- 5 Ballon d'Or awards
- Record Champions League goalscorer
The London That Never Was
Football fans can only imagine how different the sporting landscape might look today. The Premier League might have gained another construction worker but lost one of the most iconic players in football history.
Ronaldo's revelation puts into perspective the fine margins that separate sporting greatness from ordinary lives. While he eventually made it to Manchester with United, it was as a global superstar rather than as part of a Portuguese construction family in London.
The documentary provides fascinating insight into the humble beginnings of a man who would become one of sport's highest earners and most recognised athletes worldwide. It serves as a powerful reminder that behind every great success story lies a path not taken.
