Look! Cristiano Ronaldo's 10 best moments for Manchester United during first spell at Old Trafford

His career with Red Devils is fondly remembered by club's fans, now he is back for more!

Last updated:
Imran Malik, Assistant Editor
2 MIN READ
1/11
1 - Debut against Bolton in 2003: United played Sporting Lisbon in a pre-season friendly in 2003 and he absolutely tore them up. He was so good that boss Sir Alex Ferguson signed him immediately. He arrived at Old Trafford for £12.2 million and made his debut coming on as a sub for Nicky Butt on the opening day of the 2003/04 season against Bolton. Utd were leading 1-0 at the time but the Portuguese's arrival and subsequent trickery on the wing sparked them into action and they went on to win 4-0.
Twitter / Man Utd FC
2/11
2 - First goal against Portsmouth: With no David Beckham around, Ronaldo was quickly put on free-kick duties and he got his first for the club on November 1, 2003, against Portsmouth in a match they won 3-0. He curled home a free-kick past Shaka Hislop and it would be the first of many.
AP
3/11
3 - Scoring in the FA Cup Final: In the 2004 FA Cup final against Millwall, he headed home a cross from Gary Neville. Utd won 3-0 and he won his first trophy with the club at the end of his first season.
Reuters
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4 - Scoring in the League Cup Final: Chelsea blew everyone away in season 2004/05 to take the title but Ronaldo helped Utd win the League Cup against Wigan by scoring in a 4-0 win.
AP
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5 - Winning the title at Man City: Ronaldo fired home a penalty to win the Manchester derby in May 2007 and secure his first Premier League title after a good chase from Chelsea.
Reuters
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6 - Premier League hat-trick against Newcastle: He took his form from 2006/07 into the 2007/08 campaign, which turned out to be the season that most at United remember him for. He started the season on fire and grabbed his one and only hat-trick for the club in a 6-0 home win over Newcastle in January 2008.
AP
7/11
7 - That Portsmouth free-kick: Three weeks after that Newcastle game came the visit of Portsmouth to Old Trafford where he scored one of his most memorable career goals. His free-kick from 25 yards out dipped and swerved on its way into the top corner of David James' net and everyone watching could not believe it.
AP
8/11
8 - Breaking George Best's goal record In March 2008 he not only captained the team for the first time, he also scored twice in a 2-0 home win over Bolton to take his tally to 33 goals for the season and beating the Utd record for goals from a midfielder in one season, which had been set by the legendary George Best in the 1967/68 campaign.
Reuters
9/11
9 - Scoring in the Champions League final: Ronaldo put United in front against Premier League rivals Chelsea in Moscow in 2008, rising to head home a Wes Brown cross and score his 42nd goal of a staggering season.
AP
10/11
10 - 100th goal for Utd against Stoke: He was carrying an ankle injury during the 2008/09 season but still scored two free-kicks in a win over Stoke in November. The first marked his 100th goal for Utd, but by now there were plenty wondering just how many more there would be as Real Madrid circled and prepared their move.
AP
11/11
BONUS - His last Utd goal: It was a free-kick in a Manchester derby victory at Old Trafford and came in the 18th minute. His shot took a deflection and wrong-footed Shay Given. It was Ronaldo’s 26th of the 2008/09 season and his 118th and final strike for Utd as he went on to join Real Madrid that summer. But now he is back at Utd and you can bet he will be plundering in the goals again.
AP

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