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When considering footballers who have played at the top for a long time, Cristiano Ronaldo should be at the top or near the top of such a list. The 36-year-old has played at the highest level since he was 18 years old and is showing no signs of stopping. He recently stated in an interview that he wishes to be active in the game up to the age of 42.
Cristiano Ronaldo has played for Europe's biggest sides
After making his big break at his boyhood Sporting Lisbon, Cristiano Ronaldo was signed by Manchester United. The Portuguese forward became the world's most expensive footballer when he moved to Real Madrid, where he became a club legend. Ronaldo moved to Juventus and then back to Manchester United in a career that has seen him play alongside a good number of top stars.
Since making his club debut in 2003, Ronaldo has played for over 19 seasons and has shared a pitch with many top players. Without further ado, here is a list of five players you didn’t know enjoyed time together with Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch.
#5 Marcos Alonso
Spanish defender Marcos Alonso is very well-known for his time as a Chelsea player, where he has won the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League. Before then, however, the Spaniard made his debut as a Real Madrid player.
Then 19, Alonso made his professional debut for Real Madrid in a 2-0 win over Racing Santander in April 2010 as a substitute for Gonzalo Higuain, who scored a goal. Cristiano Ronaldo was on the pitch for Los Blancos the entire game and even scored their first goal of the day.
Alonso did not make any further appearances in a Real Madrid shirt after the one given to him by Manuel Pellegrini. His lack of further appearances makes people forget his appearance alongside Ronaldo. He went on to play for Bolton Wanderers, Fiorentina and Sunderland before joining Chelsea in 2016.
#4 Tim Howard
American goalkeeper Tim Howard is another player who has played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at club level. The goalkeeper joined Manchester United in the same transfer window as Ronaldo, and they lined up together on several occasions.
Howard and Ronaldo joined the club in the summer of 2003 and played together at Old Trafford until the end of the 2005/06 season. Howard made 77 appearances for the Red Devils in his time at the club.
Howard eventually made his name as one of the Premier League's best goalkeepers at Everton, and also made over 100 appearances for the USA.
#3 Henrik Larsson
One of Sweden's biggest footballers, Henrik Larsson, also played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in his final days in the game. Larsson and Ronaldo shared the Old Trafford pitch on a number of occasions during the Swede's brief stint at Manchester United.
Henrik Larsson was 36 years old when he joined Manchester United from Helsingborg in 2007 on a loan deal. He made his debut in the FA Cup against Aston Villa, playing alongside Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo in a front three. Larsson scored on his debut for the Red Devils and went on to make 12 more appearances in red. He played with Cristiano Ronaldo 11 times as a Manchester United player before the end of his loan spell at the club.
Larsson played for Feyenoord, Celtic, FC Barcelona and Helsingborg before joining Manchester United and ending his career at the Swedish club in 2009.
#2 Fabinho
Fabinho is known today as Liverpool's finest defensive midfielder and one of the Premier League's finest in his position. The Brazilian midfielder has impressed in the Premier League since joining Liverpool.
Fabinho made his sole appearance as a Real Madrid player in the 2012/13 season under Jose Mourinho's watchful eyes. The midfielder had joined Real Madrid's Castilla on loan from Portuguese side Rio Ave. Mourinho opted to give him a taste of the senior side by handing him his debut against Malaga.
Fabinho came on as a 76th minute substitute for Fabio Coentrao, and contributed an assist for Angel Di Maria in the 6-2 win for Real Madrid. He was on the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the captain on the day. The midfielder made the matchday squad on one more occasion in the league before returning to his parent club.
#1 Emmanuel Adebayor
Togolese star Emmanuel Adebayor also enjoyed time on the pitch with the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. Adebayor enjoyed a productive loan spell at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2011.
After starring for Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League, Adebayor moved to Real Madrid on loan in January 2011 from the Etihad. The Togolese star made 22 appearances for Los Blancos and scored eight goals for them before returning to England in June.
Adebayor embarked on a journeyman career after the end of his loan stint at Real Madrid, playing in England, Turkey and even Paraguay. The former Togo international retired from professional football in 2020.
