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Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest-ever footballers in the history of the beautiful game. He has acquired legendary status, thanks to his exploits for club and country.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner joined forces with Manchester United in the summer of 2003 from Sporting CP, and went on to uphold the status of the club's iconic No. 7 shirt.
The Portuguese superstar completed his dream move to Real Madrid in 2009 for a then-world record transfer fee. With four Ballon d'Or and Champions League wins during his time in Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo has been arguably the greatest Galactico of the 21st century. However, the exceptional standards set by Ronaldo have often meant that impressive performances from his teammates flew under the radar.
On that note, here's a look at five players who were overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo.
#5 Ricardo Quaresma
Ricardo Quaresma is one of the most underrated players in the modern game, despite representing some of the biggest names in European football, including Porto, Barcelona, Chelsea and Inter Milan.
The former Portugal international also showcased exceptional performances in 80 appearances for the Selecao. Currently plying his trade in the Primeira Liga, Quaresma made his debut for the national team in 2003 - the same year as Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 37-year-old notched up ten goals and 23 assists for the Selecao but never received the plaudits from fans or media for his role in the Portuguese side.
Much of it was due to the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo throughout the right-winger's playing career in the national team. Most Portugal teams over the years have been built around the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Quaresma somewhat emerged from Cristiano Ronaldo's shadow for a brief while when he played a crucial role in the all-important Euro 2016 final - coming on for the injured and heartbroken Portuguese superstar. His last appearance in Portugal colours came at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where 'The Gypsy' scored a stunner against Iran in a group-stage game.
#4 Luis Nani
While most players on our list encountered the daunting presence of Cristiano Ronaldo at either club or country, Nani had to fight for Ronaldo's favoured left-wing position at both Manchester United and Portugal.
Nani's style of play is reminiscent of the Portugal captain. The player is widely regarded for his flair and creativity in the final third. With various tricks up his sleeve, Nani was tipped to be the next big thing in Portuguese football.
The current Orlando City striker has been a stalwart for the national side in his 11-year-long illustrious career, where he was involved in 47 goals (24 goals, 23 assists) in 112 appearances.
However, the attention was mostly on Cristiano Ronaldo, and the supporting cast was often blamed for Portugal's poor performances. Much like Quaresma, Nani had the opportunity to step out of Ronaldo's shadow at Euro 2016. The now-34-year-old registered three goals and an assist in Portugal's glorious campaign that summer.
While Nani boats a resume most players will be proud of, one could argue he failed to live up to his maximum potential.
#3 Gareth Bale
Like Nani, Gareth Bale suffered from the huge burden of living up to the exceptional standards set by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bale moved to the Spanish capital on a then-world record fee of £90 million. The media and fans immediately drew comparisons with Ronaldo's move from Manchester United four years prior to that. The pressure showed on the Welsh forward. Along with his injury woes over the years, Bale eventually found himself frozen out of the first team under Zinedine Zidane.
It is widely believed that the four-time Champions League winner underachieved in his time at Madrid, but Bale has been successful in his own right. He was a crucial cog in the explosive BBC trio, with the Welshman partnering Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo in Madrid's forward line.
Most players in the Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi era have been unfairly judged on the unprecedented benchmark set by two of the greatest-ever players, and Gareth Bale is no different.
The Welsh superstar has been involved in a staggering tally of 173 goals (105 goals, 68 assists) for Los Blancos, including six goals and four assists in Madrid's glorious 2013-14 Champions League campaign.
#2 Carlos Tevez
Nicknamed 'El Apache', Carlos Tevez formed one of the most feared attacking trios in modern football, alongside Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The former Argentina international moved to Old Trafford from West Ham on a two-year loan deal in 2007. He made an immediate impact in Sir Alex Ferguson's star-studded team, playing a vital role in Manchester United's Premier League and Champions League glory in his debut season.
Tevez scored 19 goals and provided seven assists in the 2007-08 campaign, but was overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo's stellar tally of 31 goals that season. The Portuguese would go on to win his first Ballon d'Or award in 2008, while Tevez notched up 15 goals and seven assists in the 2008-09 campaign.
The 37-year-old had an unceremonious end to his Manchester United career, as he departed the club despite Sir Alex Ferguson's intent to sign him on a permanent deal. In the summer of 2009, Tevez shifted allegiances to the blue half of Manchester, making him a villain in the eyes of the Red Devils' faithful forever.
#1 Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema has been one of the most lethal goalscorers in modern football. But the general footballing populace has only given Benzema his due credit following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Real Madrid.
The Portuguese superstar's move to Juventus left a considerable void in Real Madrid's attack, and the club-record signing of Eden Hazard failed to make the desired impact. At this time of crisis, Benzema stepped up to be the leader in Madrid's forward line, and people finally started to take notice of his indispensable role at the club for 12 years now.
Benzema's role at Real Madrid over the years cannot be stated enough, as the 33-year-old has been as crucial as Cristiano Ronaldo in Los Blancos' four Champions League triumphs in the five years between 2014 and 2018. However, he was criminally underrated and often saw his consistent performances overshadowed by Ronaldo's at the Santiago Bernabeu.
'The Benz', now freed from the shackles of matching up to the ridiculous achievements of his former teammate, registered 34 goals and nine assists in 52 appearances in all competitions in the 2020-21 season for Madrid.
