Eight unborn children and 10-year-old adults: Where were the national team players when Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut?

In Portugal, among others, Ruben Dias, Vitinha, Leao, Neves, Conceiçao, Bernardo Silva ... play. But in Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo plays above all. At 40 years old, having turned 40 in February, he carries the aura of the great star he was, and in some ways still is. Because, at 40, tonight he will be the captain of Portugal, with whom he has played a whopping 220 matches, scoring, another whopping 137 goals.

Yesterday, in the press room at the Allianz Arena, he showcased the new Cristiano Ronaldo. He said, pay attention, things like these. "I don't believe much in individual awards like the Ballon d'Or, because I know what's behind it." "In football, as in life, you can't always win. " "Idiot!" (this was joking with an Argentine journalist). "I have a lot of respect and affection for Messi , just as he does for me." "I live in the present, I don't think about the future." And one last thing. "The kid is doing very, very well, but I ask that they let him grow up peacefully for the good of football."

"The kid" is Lamine Yamal , the star not only of the Spanish national team. The star of the tournament, the star, today, of world football. "Whenever a final comes around, it's all about Cristiano against who knows who, Cristiano against who knows what... It's not like that. It's Portugal against Spain," said CR. But, whether he likes it or not, tonight's final can legitimately be seen as a turning point in the life cycle of football.

And perhaps reducing it to a Lamine-Cristiano ratio is too much, but it is striking to compare the figure of the Portuguese, what he represents, the years he has been in this world, with the members of this very young Spanish team (average age 25) with the one currently competing in the Nations League, where the boys are seeking their third consecutive title.

Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut in professional football on Wednesday, August 14, 2002. He came on (replacing Spaniard Toñito ) in the 58th minute of the match between Sporting Lisbon and Inter Milan. From then until today, he has scored almost 1,000 goals, a ton of titles, Ballon d'Ors... Well, where were the current Spanish internationals almost 23 years ago? A review of their birth dates reveals a surprising truth.

To begin with, there were eight players who will be on the pitch today (three starters and five on the bench) who hadn't even been born on August 14, 2002: Lamine, Cubarsí, Huijsen, Gavi, Samu, Fermín Pedri, and Yeremi Pino .

Nico Williams was one month and two days old.

In 2002, four players were turning three years old: Vivian, Pedro Porro, Mingueza and Zubimendi , and therefore were not playing football yet.

A player was turning four: Cucurella . And he played, they say, indoor soccer for Alella, his hometown team.

Two players were celebrating their fifth birthday. Oyarzabal and Unai Simón , who played for Eibar and Zuia, their hometown team.

Two players turned six: Le Normand and Merino , both playing in their birthplaces (Lamballe and CD Amigó)

Three players turned seven: Grimaldo (Atlético Vallbonense), Raya (UE Cornellá) and Remiro .

A player turned eight. Fabián (Betis).

And two players turned 10. Isco (Atlético Benamiel) and Morata .

These figures lead to a simple conclusion: every member of the Spanish dressing room grew up watching Cristiano Ronaldo share world football's dominance with Messi. They all witnessed, with their childlike eyes, an era that may never be repeated.

"He's an example. I don't see myself at 40 like him, playing at the highest level . He's an example of how you have to sacrifice a lot of space and time in your life to continue playing at a high level. Personally, it's a privilege and an honor to be able to face him, and I'm very happy to see how he continues to score. I hope he reaches the 1,000 goals he's looking for, but not against us, of course." The quote, the quotes, are from Unai Simón, who had it written down, that he was five years old and playing for his hometown team. But Unai's sentiment is shared by everyone.

"He's one of the greatest figures in the world of football. The fact that he continues with that ambition and desire says a lot about him. He's a goalscorer who can really put the ball into your mouth," Fabián concedes, while Zubimendi recalls that they mirror an entire generation, perhaps more than one. "Along with Messi, they have been icons of the football I've experienced, an example of hunger, hard work, and talent. To continue with that same hunger at this age makes him very powerful."

"Injustice, Injustice!"

Throughout his 22-year career (his debut for the national team was in 2003), Cristiano has faced Spain many times. He emerged victorious in the first of these, at the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, when the hosts eliminated Iñaki Sáez 's team by winning the final group stage match. But, since then, it's been almost entirely disappointment for the legend. The most painful defeats were undoubtedly those in 2010 (in the round of 16 of the World Cup, which Spain won 1-0 with a goal from Villa) and 2012 (in the semi-finals of the European Championship, which Spain also won, this time on penalties). From this second clash, Cristiano's words to the camera that followed him will go down in history: "Unjustice, unjustice!"

More recent is Spain's victory in the Nations League group stage, which they went on to win in 2023. A goal from Morata near the end secured the qualification for Luis Enrique's team. "They're more accustomed to winning than we have been in recent years. That's why I think Spain will be a contender to win the 2026 World Cup, and we'll see," conceded the eternal number 7 yesterday, who today faces a group of youngsters who grew up watching him on television. Today they'll have him in front of them.