According to a Thursday announcement from the town council, Cristiano Ronaldo will soon add a medal from the city of Lisbon to his collection.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who was born and raised on the island of Madeira, traveled alone to Lisbon in 1997 when he was 12-years-old to join the Sporting academy.
Although he left for Manchester United in 2003, the statement announcing his medal noted that he is “intimately linked to the history” of Lisbon.
This is an homage to a young guy who grew up in Lisbon and who, in addition to identifying with his birthplace, developed a deep love for the city and became a great Lisboan. Lisbon's mayor, Carlos Moedas, made the announcement. “Ronaldo has always protected, promoted, and projected the name of Lisbon across the globe.
The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo is a great Lisboan has never been acknowledged.
