The defender for Hull City, Ruben Vinagre, appreciates Cristiano Ronaldo’s crucial role in opening doors for Portuguese players in English football.

Vinagre credits Ronaldo’s influence during his time in the Premier League for a large portion of the course of his career.

Vinagre, who was only four years old at the time, was motivated by Ronaldo, who in 2003, at the age of just 18, made the game-changing switch from Sporting CP to Manchester United. “I grew up watching Ronaldo at Manchester (United) and I thought I’d love to play in England,” Vinagre said, expressing his respect for the player. When Wolves offered the chance, I naturally wanted to attend and show my worth.

The impact Ronaldo had on English football is further highlighted by Vinagre, who says, “Ronaldo opened up English football for Portuguese players. Portuguese players are now prevalent in the Premier League and the Championship.

One of the best players in the Premier League, Ronaldo cemented his reputation during his six-year stay at Manchester United. In 292 appearances across all competitions, he scored an astounding 118 goals and won nine significant trophies for the team. Ronaldo furthered his impact in the football world by winning awards like the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008.