Cesc and The City

I fell in love with Cristiano Ronaldo during his Real Madrid days. I watched him score unbelievable long-range goals when people insisted he could only score tap-ins. I watched him top the Champions League assist charts when people called him selfish. I watched him score over 100 headed goals when people claimed he was nothing more than a penalty merchant. I watched him give his teammates their flowers after winning Portugal's first major international trophy when people accused him of making everything about himself. I watched assists become an increasingly important metric when Cristiano was dominating the goalscoring charts season after season and Messi needed another way to match his numbers. I witnessed broadcasters abandon La Liga coverage and turn their attention to Serie A following Cristiano's move to Italy. I watched La Liga's global appeal take a hit after his departure from Spain. I watched him win Ballon d'Or awards despite facing an establishment that often seemed determined to deny him the recognition he deserved. And perhaps most importantly, I witnessed how Cristiano Ronaldo's existence pushed Lionel Messi to become an even better player. Their rivalry elevated football to heights we may never witness again. There will never be another Cristiano Ronaldo. Everywhere you went, you conquered. Everywhere you played, you made history. From Portugal to England. From England to Spain. From Spain to Italy. You conquered leagues, Europe and the world. You defied expectations, silenced critics, shattered records and turned the impossible into something millions of children dared to dream about. You inspired generations. You taught the world that talent may open doors, but discipline, sacrifice, resilience and an unbreakable belief in yourself can take you beyond imagination. Thank you for the memories, the inspiration and the privilege of witnessing your greatness. You weren't just part of football history, Cristiano. You were one of the reasons an entire generation fell in love with football. There will never be another like you. 🐐

Me and anything to do with Portugal from today onwards