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Being one of the best players in the world certainly has its perks, and playing alongside a string of world class players is one of them. From being an adolescent, expeditious-pacey winger at Sporting to a two-time UEFA Champions League winner with Manchester United and Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo has come a long way.But, no matter how adept of a player you are, you will always need the support of your teammates, and Ronaldo has always been marginally heaven-sent with that.In this slideshow, we have tried to take a look back the 10 best players that he has played with in every position, and made a football XI with it:*Updated in 2015
#1 Substitutes
It was never going to be easy to compile an eleven out of all of the players that Cristiano Ronaldo had played with, which meant many players had to be left out including the likes of Portugal legend Luis Figo and former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar among other names.
These are the players who narrowly missed out from being in the XI:
Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United): When you have to choose between Edwin van der Sar and Iker Casillas, there is just no explanation. Iker Casillas has somewhat been more of a better goalkeeper individually, thus finding his place in the team.
Luis Figo (Portugal): Luis Figo has to be individually the best player Cristiano Ronaldo has perhaps played with Luis Figo has to individually the best player Cristiano Ronaldo has perhaps played with, but since both of the two players flourished in two different eras, we had to sit Figo out of the line-up. His position was additionally conflicting with the line-up since we had to accommodate both Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs in the team.
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United): Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were two sides of the coin for Manchester United, and their partnership was one of the most lethal ones in the Premier League. However, individually Rooney just doesn't make the cut in this already star-studded line-up.
Ricardo Kaka (Real Madrid): Had we been talking about the Kaka that stunned the world with his brilliance at Milan, he would be been the obvious name for the playmaker position. But, due to his poor show at Madrid, we had to keep him out of the starting XI.
Ricardo Carvalho (Real Madrid/Portugal): A rock-solid defender, Ricardo Carvalho has partnered Cristiano Ronaldo in both the white and red jersey.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United): Despite Ruud van Nistelrooy’s feud with Ronaldo which ultimately resulted in his departure from Manchester United, his sheer quality in front of the goal compels us to include him in the team.
Roy Keane (Manchester United): A no-nonsense of a player and probably the greatest Manchester United captain, Roy Keane misses out from the team only due to the fact that he has played fewer number of matches with Ronaldo in comparison to the other central midfielders.
#2 Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas
Played together at: Real Madrid
Playing years: 2009 – 2015
Iker Casillas is one of the best goalkeepers in modern football, and his nomination over Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is due to his success in both club and international competitions.
Casillas, who has won the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper Award for five consecutive years, had captained Spain to their maiden FIFA World Cup victory and two Euro wins, and is Spain’s highest capped player.
Ever since making his debut for the Whites in the 1998-99 seasons, Casillas has been an omnipresent figure at Madrid.
Despite the major trophy drought that Real Madrid underwent in the past decade, Casillas’ trophy cabinet is what that every goalkeeper would wish for. The 33-year-old has won the UEFA Champions League three times, La Liga five times and two Copa del Rey titles.
#3 Right-back: Gary Neville
Played together at: Manchester United
Playing years: 2003 – 2009
Yet another one club player, Gary Neville captained Manchester United for five years, and is the club's second most capped player in the Premier League era. His CV boasts of eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two Champions League trophies.
Despite his lack of natural talent, Neville emerged as one of the Premier League’s best right backs of all time, all due to his determination and work ethic.
#4 Centre-back: Sergio Ramos
Played together at: Real Madrid
Playing years: 2009 – Present
If we overlook all of Sergio Ramos’ moments of madness, he is that kind of a defender you don’t mess with.
Originally a Sevilla youth product, Ramos grew into one of Madrid’s most important players over the years. A goal-scoring threat in front of the goal, Ramos has scored over 50 goals in his career, a big feat for a defender.
Ramos will forever be remembered by Real Madrid fans for his extra-time header against Altetico Madrid in the 2013-14 Champions League final.
#5 Centre-back: Nemanja Vidic
Played together at: Manchester United
Playing years: 2003 – 2009
Nemanja Vidic had been a rock-like figure at Manchester United for many years until he completed a move to Inter Milan in 2014. Forming a commendable defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand, Vidic is arguably one of the greatest defenders in the Premier League history.
In terms of silverware, Vidi has five Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League, one FIFA Club World Cup and three League Cup medals in his bag.
#6 Left-back: Marcelo
Played together at: Real Madrid
Playing years: 2009 – Present
The partnership between Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo on the left flank for Real Madrid is one of the key reasons behind Real Madrid's recent success.
Marcelo, a fast-paced full-back with a vision who often draws comparisons with Brazilian fullback Roberto Carlos, who himself refers to Marcelo as his heir, calling him the world's best left back. However, he is often criticized to be out of his position, leaving behind a lot of space, thus being vulnerable at times.
#7 Deep lying playmaker: Paul Scholes
Played together at: Manchester United
Playing years: 2003 – 2009
Described as the best midfielder of this generation by players such as Zinedine Zidane, Xabi Alonso and Xavi, Paul Scholes was an automatic addition to this lineup. One of the rare-one club men, he shunned the limelight throughout his career.
He is a two-time Champions league winner and an 11 time Premier League title winner. He was also the key part in the club's Treble-winning success in the 1998–99 season.
#8 Deep lying playmaker: Xabi Alonso
Played together at: Real Madrid
Playing years: 2009 – 2014
Xabi Alonso joined Real Madrid a month later than Cristiano Ronaldo did.
A machine in the middle, Alonso soon became one of Real Madrid's most significant players. His departure from Liverpool devastated club captain Steven Gerrard, who cites his transfer as one of the reasons behind Liverpool’s fall in the recent years.
Despite winning a league title on only one occasion in his 15-year long career, Alonso has won the Champions League two times, the FIFA World Cup once and the Euros twice.
#9 Right wing: Ryan Giggs
Played together at: Manchester United
Playing years: 2003 – 2009
Manchester United’s highest capped player in the Premier League era, Ryan Giggs is the most decorated player in the history of English football having won the Premier League 13 times, the UEFA Champions League twice, the FA Cup four times and Community Shield 9 times.
While compiling the list, we were in the dilemma of selecting either Luis Figo or Ryan Giggs to partner Ronaldo on the wings. Since the partnership between Giggs and Ronaldo has been more fruitful than that of Figo and Ronaldo’s, we opted for the former instead.
#10 Attacking midfielder: Mesut Ozil
Played together at: Real Madrid
Playing years: 2010 – 2013
No player has assisted Cristiano Ronaldo more than Mesut Ozil, something that even Ronaldo acknowledges. Upon his transfer to Arsenal in 2013, several players and supporters expressed their discontent with the decision made by the club including Ronaldo who said, "He was the player who best knew my moves in front of goal ... I'm angry about Özil leaving."
A playmaker with breathtaking finesse and vision, Ozil is a unique player who is the dream partner for any striker in the team. Since moving to Arsenal, he hasn’t been performing to his full potential, but that is more due to the fact that the team lack a world class finisher.
Expect him to be one of the Premier League’s most lethal players in the upcoming seasons, as he keeps getting used to the physicality of the league and develops a better understanding with his team-mates.
#11 Striker: Raul
Played together at: Real Madrid
Playing years: 2009 – 2010
It was Cristiano Ronaldo who donned Raul's iconic number 7 kit following his departure from the club in the 2010, and frankly there couldn't have been a better choice. Raul’s influence at Real Madrid is unparalleled, and is perhaps only second to the greatness of another club legend Alfredo di Stefano.
Raul was the heart and soul of Real Madrid, and besides being a team player, he was a player with a natural footballing brain, and the ability to read the game and lift his teammates’ spirits during tough times. He was the ideal choice to wear the captain’s arm band after fellow veteran Fernando Hierro decided to step down.
The Spaniard was the first player in Champions League history to hit the 50 goals mark and remained as the tournament’s top scorer with 71 goals, until Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo went past the record. In the domestic league, Raúl had netted 228 goals for Real Madrid. This was another club record, although Cristiano Ronaldo would eventually rewrite it in September 2015.
In the modern game, he is a true anomaly: a man whose phenomenal talent is matched only by his incredible dignity.
This is how the team would look like: [Created via LineUpBuilder]
