Why Liverpool snubbed chance to sign future Ballon d'Or winner who sold for world record fee

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The Portuguese forward would go on to forge a five-time Ballon d'Or-winning legacy at Manchester United and Real Madrid, with the 69th edition of the prestigious award due to be presented on Monday evening.

In 2003, a youthful Ronaldo was among Europe's most coveted talents, having established a sparkling reputation at Sporting CP.

Elite clubs came knocking, and it was Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils who sealed the transfer, acquiring Ronaldo for a mere £12m.

Come 2009, he departed Old Trafford for a then-world record £80million fee, and more than 15 years on, Ronaldo is arguably the finest player to grace the beautiful game.

He has netted nearly 950 goals for Portugal and clubs including United, Real Madrid and Juventus, claimed numerous honours, and been crowned the world's best player on five separate occasions.

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Nevertheless, Ronaldo's illustrious career might have followed a dramatically different path had United's fierce adversaries Liverpool been the club to usher him into the Premier League.

The late former Reds boss Gerard Houllier revealed that such a game-changing transfer was within reach, only to be derailed by salary considerations.

"I saw him in the Toulon Under-21 tournament and we went for him," confessed Houllier, who commanded the Anfield dugout from 1998 until 2004 before his passing in 2020.

"But we had a wage scale and we weren't paying the sort of salary he wanted.

"Then Manchester United played a friendly against Sporting Lisbon and all their boys said to Alex Ferguson, 'You have to sign him'.

Ronaldo claimed his maiden Ballon d'Or whilst dazzling at United in 2008, and following his record £80m transfer, he secured four additional accolades at the Bernabe?u in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Only eight-time winner Lionel Messi has claimed the award more times than Ronaldo.