A Diagnosis Almost Changes Everything
Although Cristiano was always a fairly healthy young man, at the age of 15 he received news that could have completely changed his destiny. During routine examinations, doctors discovered that the athlete suffered from a cardiac pathology that urgently required surgery.
When they realized his health problem they called his mother for permission to perform an emergency operation. Fortunately the surgery was able to be performed with the help of a laser and was non-invasive.
An Early Success?
It is clear that Cristiano began to taste the sweetness of success very early. Already at the age of 17 he was signed by Sporting Lisbon, making his professional debut against Inter Milan. His talent with the ball quickly got him noticed by the press.
In 2002, also at the age of 17, he was almost signed by Juventus, all thanks to the possible exchange of Marcelo Salas. However, the latter refused to play for a Portuguese team.