Seven-time snooker world champion Stephen Hendry once found himself caught in a hilarious mix-up when Sir Alex Ferguson told him about Manchester United’s latest signing.
Hendry, a passionate sports fan, was on a golf course at Gleneagles with Ferguson when he overheard the legendary manager discussing a transfer deal. Speaking on Ben Foster’s Snooker Club podcast, he recalled the moment he mistakenly believed United were signing Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario (R9) instead of Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I played golf with him [Ferguson] once, and he was on the phone all the time,” Hendry explained. “This guy I knew asked me to play with him because he didn’t play golf but knew Alex Ferguson. So I said, ‘Yeah, sure.’”
“Fergie was on the phone, and this guy asked him what he was doing. He replied, ‘I’m doing a deal. We’re signing Ronaldo.’ I thought, ‘Oh my God, Manchester United are signing Brazilian Ronaldo!’”
Excited by the prospect of R9 joining United, Hendry immediately texted his friends to share the “breaking news”—only to later realize Ferguson was referring to the then-unknown Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting CP.
The Arrival of a Football Icon
Cristiano Ronaldo first caught Ferguson’s eye during a 2003 pre-season friendly, where his Sporting CP side defeated United 3-1. Just six days later, the 17-year-old winger signed for the Red Devils, marking the beginning of an iconic career.
While Hendry may have initially been more excited about signing R9, Manchester United arguably landed an even bigger footballing giant. Cristiano went on to score 118 goals in 292 appearances during his first spell at the club (2003-2009), winning:
✅ 3 Premier League titles
✅ 2 League Cups
✅ 1 FA Cup
✅ 1 Champions League
In 2009, he completed a then-world-record £80 million move to Real Madrid, where he cemented his legacy, adding:
✅ 4 more Champions League titles
✅ 2 La Liga titles
✅ 450 goals in 438 games
He later moved to Juventus, then returned to Manchester United in 2021, before signing with Al-Nassr in Saudi–Arabia in 2023.
Ronaldo at 40 – Still Breaking Records
Even at 40 years old, Ronaldo continues to dominate on the pitch. Now playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, he has already netted 15 goals in 17 matches in the 2024/25 season. Although his contract expires at the end of the season, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has made it clear he still wants to keep playing at the highest level.
R9’s Legacy and Injury Struggles
Meanwhile, Ronaldo Nazario, widely regarded as one of the most gifted strikers in football history, endured a career plagued by serious knee injuries. The Brazilian icon spent five years at Real Madrid (2002-2007) before playing for AC Milan and later Corinthians, but his career was constantly disrupted by patellar ruptures and ligament tears.
Despite their different career-paths, both Cristiano Ronaldo and R9 remain two of the most iconic forwards the game has ever-seen. And while Hendry’s misunderstanding provided a lighthearted moment, Ferguson’s decision in 2003 ultimately shaped the modern era of football.
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