The 2023/24 season has been relatively favorable for Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr. After helping the club win the Arab Club Champions Cup, CR7 continued to shine by contributing 10 goals and 5 assists to bring his team back into the Saudi Pro League title race after two initial losses.
Thriving in the Middle East, Ronaldo recently received some good news from Europe. Specifically, the club where he began his career, Sporting Lisbon, has made a special decision to honor CR7.
As previously reported, the Portuguese football giant proposed a plan to name Gate No. 7 at their home stadium, José Alvalade, after Cristiano Ronaldo, as a tribute to the 38-year-old superstar. This past week, the club’s board of directors voted on the proposal, with an approval rate of 70.93%.
Immediately afterward, Ronaldo’s face and the iconic number 7 appeared at the corresponding gate at the José Alvalade stadium, just as planned. Previously, this spot belonged to the legendary Manuel Fernandes, who made 441 appearances for Sporting Lisbon.
This is clearly an unprecedented tribute in the club’s history, especially when considering that CR7 played only 31 games in a single season for Sporting Lisbon before being sold to Manchester United in 2003. Choosing gate number 7 for Ronaldo is itself a special honor, as he never wore this number during his time at the club.
However, Sporting seems to want a special place to honor the greatest product they’ve ever developed. Not only at the club level, but Ronaldo is also currently the player with the most appearances and goals for the Portuguese national team and in the world. CR7 is undoubtedly the greatest football legend in Portugal, so being honored by his former club is entirely understandable.
