An uncharted territory for Ronaldo   

Cristiano Ronaldo is a name that is synonymous with goals, success, records and trophies. For a player that has had such magnitude of success during a footballing career spanning almost two decades largely due to sheer determination, it is difficult to find his ultimate goals out of focus.

But that drive has lately led to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner finding himself in the spotlight for wrong reasons, somewhat par for the course for a player whose career has had its fair share of controversies.

However, the situation is unique and obviously unpleasant for the superstar who, for the first time in his glittering career, finds himself unwanted.

After dropping the bombshell on Manchester United that he wanted to leave the club earlier this month, all that Ronaldo has encountered is a barrage of refusals. Reportedly the likes of Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and, most recently, Atletico Madrid, turned down the chance to swoop for the Portuguese.

A Champions League sans Ronaldo may seem unfathomable to his fans and the Portuguese forward himself as he has featured in every edition of the competition in the last 19 years -- lifting the trophy on five occasions, one less than the record held by Real Madrid legend Paco Gento.

In the meantime, Ronaldo has kept himself out of footballing action, taking leave from the entirety of Manchester United's of pre-season tours to Thailand and Australia over the last month citing family reasons. The star has also irked two of his most loyal fanbases amid this whirlwind of transfer rumours.

Ronaldo's desire to exit the English club is fueled by the fact that Manchester United missed out on the Champions League -- a competition where he has dominated over the years and is the all-time top-scorer.

His rigid desperation for Champions League football, however, is tarnishing the legacy he has built over the years with fans of Real Madrid and Manchester United after his agent Jorge Mendes reached out to Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, even agreeing to a pay cut to do so.

Atletico fans have been the most vocal in rejecting Ronaldo, initiating a social media campaign in opposition of their club signing the former Real forward with '#ContraCR7', meaning 'against CR7', on Twitter. Other clubs have publically dispelled rumours about signing the star.

However, the saga seems to be far from over as the 37-year-old, accompanied by Mendes, reportedly told Manchester United to loan him out during his first meeting with new manager Erik ten Hag last Tuesday.

But as things stand, despite all the hubbub, Ronaldo might see himself doing what he has clearly been trying to avoid: play in the Europa League for the first time in his career.

A Champions League sans Ronaldo may seem unfathomable to his fans and the Portuguese forward himself as he has featured in every edition of the competition in the last 19 years -- lifting the trophy on five occasions, one less than the record held by Real Madrid legend Paco Gento.

But is the fight for the mere opportunity to feature in the competition worth staining a glorified reputation built on the back of sheer brilliance, hard work and tenacity over the years?

If Ronaldo's record is anything to go by, goals are a certainty regardless of the club he represents. But for the first time in Ronaldo's career, what is at stake could impact his career far more than just goals and stats.