Is CR7 a Striker or Winger? The Evolution of a Legend
The young Ronaldo: blistering pace and flair on the wing
Honestly, if you only started watching football in the last few years, it’s easy to think Cristiano Ronaldo has always been a striker. But I still remember watching this skinny, spiky-haired teenager tearing it up for Manchester United in 2003.
Back then? He was 100% a winger. A proper one. Right side, then later mostly left. Full of stepovers (so many stepovers), tricks, bursts of pace that left defenders completely frozen.
My cousin Tom and I used to argue back then—he thought CR7 was all show, no end product. I defended him like crazy. “Just wait, man. He’s gonna be unreal.” Spoiler: I was right.
The transition years: when did he shift to striker?
The Real Madrid era: stats, goals... and more goals
So, around 2009, when he moved to Real Madrid, things started to shift. He still looked like a winger in the early seasons—drifting wide, cutting inside. But he wasn’t hugging the touchline like before. He was creeping more and more central.
That’s when I personally started thinking: wait, is he still a winger? Or more of a forward now?
Let’s be real—his goal tally exploded. 40+ goals a season like it was normal. And not tap-ins either—headers, long-range rockets, one-touch finishes, you name it. At some point, he wasn’t just cutting in from the wing—he was literally living inside the box.
The tactical shift was obvious
Managers like Ancelotti and Zidane saw what was happening and leaned into it. Ronaldo stopped tracking back. He stopped crossing much. He became the guy waiting at the end of the move, not starting it.
That’s when he truly started functioning as a striker, even if no one wanted to say it out loud.
What position does CR7 play now?
With Portugal and Al-Nassr: it’s striker, no doubt
Watch any recent Portugal or Al-Nassr game. Is Ronaldo out wide, dancing past full-backs? Nah. He’s front and center, literally. Classic striker movement. Runs between defenders, waits for crosses, always sniffing for a goal.
And it makes sense. He’s in his late 30s (crazy to think, right?), he’s not gonna outpace young full-backs all game long. But inside the box? Still lethal.
Actually, I remember watching Portugal vs. Ghana in the 2022 World Cup. There was a cross whipped in from the left, and boom—Ronaldo just appears in the perfect spot, as usual. My dad (who isn’t even a big football guy) just said: “How does he always know where to be?”
That’s what top strikers do. And CR7 does it as well as anyone, even now.
So... is CR7 a winger or striker?
Honestly? He’s been both—but now he’s clearly a striker
Let’s break it down simply:
2002–2008 (Sporting + Man Utd early): Explosive winger
2009–2015 (early Real Madrid): Hybrid—still wide, but more goalscoring
2016–present: Full-on striker. Central role, penalty box presence, pure efficiency
The crazy part? He’s excelled in both roles. Not many players can say that.
And look, some fans will always see him as a winger. I get it—it’s nostalgia. That young, fast, flashy Ronaldo was iconic. But the mature, ruthless version? That’s the one who broke records.
Final word? Cristiano Ronaldo started as a winger and evolved into one of the deadliest strikers in football history.
So next time someone asks “Is CR7 a striker or winger?” — you can say:
"Both. But now? He’s a striker. And a damn good one."
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How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
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