24 years ago — Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first professional goal for Sporting
On October 8, 2002 the 17‑year‑old Ronaldo scored twice as Sporting CP beat Moreirense 3–0; the club published a video marking the anniversary.
Exactly 24 years ago, on October 8, 2002, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first goal of his professional career. The then‑17‑year‑old Portuguese forward found the net twice as Sporting CP beat Moreirense 3–0.
How the goal came
Ronaldo's opening strike arrived in the 34th minute. He picked up the ball near the center of the pitch, accelerated into the penalty area and finished past the goalkeeper to open the scoring.
He later added a second goal in the same match, helping Sporting secure a comfortable 3–0 victory that announced the arrival of a promising teenager in professional football.
Sporting CP marked the anniversary by posting archival footage of the goal. In a message on its Twitter account the club wrote: "On this day in 2002, @Cristiano only needed 34 minutes to score his 1st goal as a professional. The start of a story that changed the world of football."
The match remains a frequently cited milestone in Ronaldo's early career — the first clear sign of a player who would go on to become one of the most influential figures in the modern game.
Photo: press material from the event
