CRISTIANO RONALDO
Sporting unveil Cristiano Ronaldo 2023/24 tribute kit: where can I buy it and how much does it cost?
The former Real Madrid superstar started his career in Lisbon, playing his most famous game for his first club against Manchester United 20 years ago.
Cristiano Ronaldo will most probably be best known as a Real Madrid legend when his career comes to an end, or perhaps as the player who instigated the Saudi Pro League boom, depending on how that evolves over the coming years. But for Sporting Clube de Portugal, often referred to as Sporting Lisbon internationally, he’ll always be one of their own. As a symbol of that, the club have combined with kit manufacturers Nike to create a “CR7″ third kit for the 2023/24 season.
Manchester United sign Ronaldo after friendly display
Ronaldo was born almost 1000 kilometres from Lisbon on the island of Madeira in the North Atlantic Ocean but signed for Sporting at the age of 12 in 1997 after a short trial. The attacker progressed through various youth teams and made his first-team debut when he was 17, going on to play a total of 31 matches (scoring five goals) for his first club before he was sold to Manchester United after a famous friendly game between the two teams in 2003, in which Ronaldo ripped the Red Devils apart.
Despite having been away from the Portuguese giants from 20 years, Sporting have always had a special place in the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s heart, with regular suggestions that he would look to finish his career back where it started, which has so far failed to materialise.
Sporting’s 20th anniversary jersey
The new jersey is the darkest of dark greens with gold sleeves, inspired by the jersey Ronaldo and his teammates wore in that friendly against United, which was the inaugural game at Estádio José Alvalade on 6 August 2003.
The kit has been released to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the opening of their current ground and honours Ronaldo with a CR7 logo, which is positioned on the front where the manufacturer’s logo - in this case Nike - would normally be.
“Five Ballon d’Or awards later”
The promotional post on the club’s official website reads the following:
“Travel back in time with us to 2003.
It’s the 6th of August. Imagine you are at the grand opening of the new Estádio José Alvalade. The referee is about to kick off the match against Manchester United FC... We’ve returned to this moment, recaptured the best of this day and the best of what is Made In Sporting.
We now invite you to go back to the future, 20 years ahead and five Ballon d’Or awards later.
It’s the 6th of August 2023. It’s our home’s anniversary, and we have prepared a very special gift for you. Introducing our new Lion Skin, inspired by the kit used in 2003, celebrating the 20 years of Estádio José Alvalade’s existence.
A unique jersey that completes a virtuous triangle between Sporting CP, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Nike.”
Where can I buy a CR7 Sporting jersey?
The easiest place for fans to get a hold of a CR7 jersey is via Sporting’s online shop. Assuming you’re not a club member, the top will set you back €95 (around $104,50) with a front sponsor, or €75 (circa $82,50) without it. Only men’s shirts appear to have been made available to buy as it stands.