Cristiano Ronaldo

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Lore & Background

Inaugurated in 2002 on the opposite bank of the Tagus River from Lisbon, the facility was built as a brand new infrastructure for Sporting CP's football training and youth development. It quickly gained prominence, serving as a training ground for the Portugal national team during UEFA Euro 2004 under its original name, Academia de Alcochete. In 2006, the academy adopted the name Sporting/Puma Academy following a sponsorship contract with Puma that lasted until 2012. On 21 September 2020, it was officially renamed the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo to honor the player who emerged as the most decorated footballer ever produced by the club's youth system.

In Their Own Story

The academy witnessed intense moments beyond training drills, including a significant event on 15 May 2018. After Sporting finished third in the Portuguese league, around fifty fanatic supporters from the ultras group attacked players and coaches at the facility. These individuals were subsequently banned for life from the club and faced prosecution by legal authorities. The site also served as a hub for international collaboration; in June 2010, Sporting CP signed its first consultancy contract for sports training with Al-Ahli Saudi Soccer Academy, a partnership that lasted three years.

Reader's Guide

Visitors to the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo can observe the Estádio Aurélio Pereira, named after long-serving head youth player scout Aurélio Pereira. This stadium holds a seating capacity of exactly 1,180 and hosts matches for the reserve men's team, Sporting CP B, as well as the main women's football team. The facility represents the culmination of a development system that transformed young talents into world-class athletes, maintaining its status as a critical infrastructure since its opening in 2002.

Did You Know?

• The academy was renamed Academia Cristiano Ronaldo on 21 September 2020.
• The Estádio Aurélio Pereira within the complex holds a seating capacity of 1,128.
• The facility served as a training ground for the Portugal national team during UEFA Euro 2004.