Cristiano Ronaldo last featured for Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final, which ended in a defeat to Barcelona.
Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for yet another Champions League final with his Real Madrid side set to take on Juventus. But it was during the 2009 final that he pulled on a Manchester United shirt for the final time, starting up front in the team that went on to lose 2-0 to Barcelona in Rome.
But what became of that United team? Here, HITC Sport takes a look back at the starting XI…
GK: Edwin van der Sar
Like Ronaldo, van der Sar’s final United game came against Barca, only, in his case, coming two years after the 2009 defeat when United were beaten in the final of the same competition at Wembley. He retired that same year, briefly coming out of retirement for one game for Noordwijk in 2016.
RB: John O’Shea
John O’Shea’s career has unfortunately declined sharply, having been a part of the Sunderland side since 2011 that has flirted with relegation for a number of years. If he stays with the Black Cats this summer, he will be a Championship player next season.
Nemanja Vidic stayed at Manchester United until 2014
CB: Nemanja Vidic
Premier League legend Vidic remained with United until 2014, leaving for Inter Milan. After a difficult spell in Italy, he retired in 2016.
CB: Rio Ferdinand
Another legendary defender, Ferdinand also stayed at Old Trafford until 2014. He spent one season with QPR before retiring and switching his attention to punditry.
LB: Patrice Evra
Patrice Evra’s departure also came in 2014, but unlike the previous two players, he continues to play, having joined Marseille after a highly successful few years with Juventus.
CM: Anderson
Anderson was certainly one player who never seemed to live up to the hype. Nevertheless, he stayed with United until 2015, returning to his native Brazil.
Carrick remains at United
CM: Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick is one of two players in the team that night that remains at Manchester United. He has made over 300 league appearances for the Red Devils.
CM: Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs hung up his boots in 2014 after a sensational career. After a brief spell as caretaker manager and then as assistant under Louis van Gaal, he is still searching for his first job in management.
RW: Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung was arguably one of the most underrated players from this period in United’s history. He stayed until 2012, joining QPR before finishing his career with a loan spell with PSV Eindhoven.
LW: Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney is now the club’s all-time goalscorer having gone past the landmark this past season. He remains with United but has enjoyed a much less prominent role this term.
ST: Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning strike-rate with Real Madrid has meant that despite joining just eight years ago, he is already their leading goalscorer of all-time. And he will be hoping to win his fourth Champions League medal against Juve.
Cristiano Ronaldo
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